Harakeke moved from traditional taonga into engineered composites

RNZ and Newsroom both covered KiwiFibre in August 2024, on harakeke crossing from a traditional taonga into an engineered material. The Christchurch company grew out of University of Canterbury research, and its composites carry a carbon footprint far below that of glass and carbon fiber.

We backed KiwiFibre because demand for strong, sustainable materials is climbing while the composites industry stays tied to high-emission carbon and glass fiber. Harakeke is one of the world's toughest natural fibers, and Ben Scales and William Murrell have engineered it into a material that competes on performance rather than asking customers to accept a compromise. As manufacturers look to cut the carbon footprint of their products, a locally grown, renewable alternative arrives at the right moment.

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