Rubi Enzymatic Carbon-to-Cellulose Textile Fibers

Rubi Laboratories is a California materials company founded in 2021 by twin scientists Neeka and Leila Mashouf. It aims to replace petroleum- and wood-based inputs in textiles and chemicals by making cellulose and other products from low-cost carbon sources, including captured CO2.

Rubi uses AI-engineered, cell-free enzyme cascades in modular skid reactors that convert industrial sugars, waste biomass, methanol or CO2 into cellulose pulps and fibres, tunable biopolymers and biochemicals. Its advanced cellulose textiles are positioned as drop-in fibres for apparel, home textiles and hygiene that match or exceed viscose and lyocell, and the platform also targets formulation ingredients and carbon fibre precursors. Enzymes are designed, tested and deployed in-house. Partners include Walmart, H&M, Patagonia, GANNI, Reformation and Nuuly.

• Cell-free enzymes: AI-engineered enzyme cascades build products unit by unit without living cells.
• Flexible feedstocks: industrial sugars, waste biomass, methanol or captured CO2.
• Modular reactors: container-sized skid reactors designed for point-of-need deployment.
• Drop-in cellulose fibres: textiles for apparel, home and hygiene positioned against viscose and lyocell.
• Beyond textiles: biodegradable formulation ingredients and cellulose carbon fibre precursors.
• In-house enzyme engineering: production data feeds back into enzyme design.

Vietnamese spinners and weavers supplying H&M, Walmart or Patagonia can qualify Rubi cellulose fibres for pilot collections. Industrial plants with CO2 or biomass waste streams could explore hosting modular Rubi reactors. Hygiene and home textile makers can test Rubi fibres as an alternative to viscose.

Rubi reports its enzymatic process delivers 17 times more output per square foot, 50% lower capital cost per annual tonne and 80% faster time from plant start to first product than incumbent processes. Brands get cellulose fibres from CO2 or waste carbon without relying on forest pulp. The company cites more than USD 60 million in signed offtake term sheets across 15 commercial partnerships, signalling buyer demand.

Man-made cellulosic fibres are growing as brands move away from virgin polyester, but wood pulp supply raises deforestation concerns. Carbon-to-material technologies let brands address scope 3 emissions and sourcing risk at the same time. Asian fibre producers and garment exporters, including in Vietnam, will need access to such next-generation cellulose to meet brand targets.

Rubi Laboratories, Inc., founded in 2021 by Neeka and Leila Mashouf; described in press coverage as a California startup. Backers include AP Ventures, H&M Group, Patagonia and Collaborative Fund; raised USD 7.5 million with over USD 60 million in offtake term sheets and won a USD 1 million NSF Phase II grant. Debuted a fully enzymatic CO2 yarn with GANNI and ran a pilot partnership with Walmart.