How We Measure Impact: Science, Data & CircularityMetrics
...And What We Can (and Can’t) Control
In the world of sustainable innovation, there’s a frustrating paradox:
The closer you are to the beginning of the value chain, the more critical your role — and the less control you have over what happens next.
As a material innovator, we at Celys play a foundational role in enabling circular fashion. But once our fibre leaves our hands, we rely on many others — mills, brands, designers, and recyclers — to complete the picture. We can’t guarantee circularity on our own. What we can do is design for it, test for it, and work with partners who share our vision.
Here’s how we measure impact in a system where we influence a lot, but control only a few key things — and why that distinction matters.
1. We Measure What We Can Control
Our primary focus is to engineer better materials —and to prove, with real data, how those materials perform across their lifecycle.
That starts with three things we can directly control:
Scientific Validation
Our fibre is the first certified compostable polyester, certified for industrial composting through independent third-party testing under globally recognised standards (TÜV Austria "OK compost INDUSTRIAL").
We’ve also conducted extensive internal testing under home composting conditions, showing complete disintegration in under 12weeks. While not (yet) certified for home composting, this data gives us — and our partners — valuable insight into real-world biodegradation potential beyond industrial systems.
R&D and Continuous Improvement
We’re constantly refining the performance and process ability of Celys — whether that’s improving dye uptake at lower temperatures, making the fibre more machine-friendly for spinners, or exploring recycling innovations to complement compostability.
We also invest in lab-to-mill testing, collecting data to understand energy, water and chemical use during production, and to inform better product development.
Certifications and Circularity Benchmarks
We set internal benchmarks and pursue third-party certifications, not just to meet standards, but to raise them. Our impact measurement framework looks at:
- Disintegration time under real composting conditions
- Compatibility with current dyeing and finishing infrastructure
- Product performance (strength, durability, longevity)
- Carbon and water savings in production
These are things we can verify, quantify, and control.
2. We Work with Partners Who Share Our Vision
Once our fibre enters the supply chain, its fate depends on design choices, manufacturing processes, and end-of-life pathways we don’t own. That’s why we don’t just sell a fibre, we build partnerships.
We look to work with:
- Spinners and mills who understand how to work with new materials and are willing to adapt processes.
- Brands and designers are committed to end-of-life planning, not just sustainable aesthetics.
- Supply chain partners who want to measure and improve real outcomes, not just tick compliance boxes.
We offer impact reporting support, technical documentation, and product development collaboration, because data is only useful when it’s shared and utilised effectively.
3. We Created the ISA to Bridge the Gaps
To close the loop on circular textiles, we need more than good materials. We need better systems. That’s why we launched the Intimiti Sustainability Academy (ISA) — a cross-industry initiative designed to:
- Bring together brands, mills, and innovators around shared sustainability goals
- Enable joint testing, circular design pilots, and transparent data sharing
- Develop more precise definitions and frameworks for what circularity actually means in practice
Through the ISA, we’re building the connective tissue the industry lacks, a way for each stakeholder to play their role in a collective outcome.
Measuring Impact in a Shared System
So what does impact measurement look like when your control is limited?
For us, it means being transparent about what we can measure and honest about what we can’t. It means focusing relentlessly on:
- Scientific integrity
- Process efficiency
- Real-world disintegration
- Strategic alignment with the right partners
- Ecosystem-level collaboration through the ISA
Circularity isn’t something any one company can own. But it’s something we can enable, design for, and scale together— if we’re willing to move beyond claims and start building real, measurable systems.
If you're a brand, mill, or innovator looking to make measurable sustainability a reality — not just a theory — let's talk.
