Kintra versal Bio-Based PBS Yarn and Resin

Kintra Fibers is a materials science company based in Brooklyn, New York, led by CEO and co-founder Billy McCall. It develops a 100% bio-based alternative to polyester, aiming to cut the fossil fuel use and persistent microplastic pollution of the more than 90 million tonnes of petroleum-based synthetic fibres produced each year.

Kintra's proprietary fibre-grade PBS (polybutylene succinate) resin is designed to run on conventional PET resin and fibre extrusion equipment. The company supplies resin to extruders, staple fibre to spinners, multifilament yarn to mills and fabric to brands. Its flagship yarn versal comes as FDY, DTY and ATY for knit and woven applications and uses low-temperature disperse dyeing. Manufacturing is being scaled through a partnership with Portuguese polyester producer Selenis, whose Texnascis platform acts as industrialisation partner.

• Bio-based PBS resin: 100% bio-based fibre-grade polybutylene succinate developed for textiles.
• Drop-in processing: runs on conventional polyester resin and fibre extrusion systems.
• versal yarn range: FDY, DTY and ATY multifilament for knit and woven fabrics.
• Multiple supply points: resin, staple fibre, multifilament yarn and finished fabric.
• Low-temperature dyeing: disperse dyeing at lower temperatures than PET.
• End-of-life options: compost biodegradation tested under ASTM D6400 and ISO 14855-1 and compatible with chemical recycling.

Vietnamese polyester yarn producers can run trials of Kintra PBS resin on existing extrusion lines to offer a bio-based yarn. Knitting and weaving mills can develop versal fabrics for activewear and fashion brands seeking alternatives to virgin polyester. Garment exporters can co-develop pilot collections with brand customers using Kintra fabric.

Mills can switch to a bio-based fibre without new equipment because the resin runs on existing PET extrusion lines. A preliminary third-party screening LCA cited by Kintra shows 40% lower greenhouse gas emissions excluding biogenic carbon, 20% lower primary energy demand and 30% lower blue water use than conventional polyester. Low-temperature disperse dyeing reduces energy, water and chemicals, and yarns pass ASTM D6400 and ISO 14855-1 compost biodegradation tests.

Brands are looking beyond recycled PET for synthetic fibres with lower fossil content and less persistent microplastic impact. Bio-based polymers that run on existing equipment reduce the risk for spinners and mills. Vietnam's large polyester yarn, knitting and garment base serving global sportswear and fashion brands is a natural place to qualify such drop-in materials.

Based in Brooklyn, New York, USA; CEO and co-founder Billy McCall. In April 2026 signed a strategic manufacturing partnership with Portuguese specialty polyester producer Selenis, which will produce Kintra's fibre-grade PBS resin through its Texnascis platform. Environmental figures come from a preliminary screening LCA and are stated as subject to change.