Twin sisters Neeka and Leila Mashouf have developed a pioneering enzymatic process that transforms CO₂ emissions into cellulose-based fibres, offering a biodegradable and scalable alternative to traditional textile materials. Their innovation addresses one of the largest environmental challenges—carbon emissions from the textile industry—by turning a climate concern into a renewable manufacturing resource. This advancement has earned their startup, Rubi, a spot among the Tomorrow Shapers selected for the 2025 Young Inventors Prize awarded by the European Patent Office.
Every year, billions of tonnes of CO₂ are released into the atmosphere by the global fashion industry. Rubi’s proprietary enzymatic process replicates the natural way trees absorb carbon and convert it into cellulose. But instead of relying on natural growth cycles, Rubi achieves the transformation in a controlled chemical reactor using a series of specialised enzymes. The result is cellulose-rich polymers that can be spun into fibres, yarns, and eventually fabrics. These materials are biodegradable and compatible with existing textile supply chains.
What sets Rubi’s approach apart from conventional carbon capture technologies is its efficiency. Rather than depending on energy-heavy fermentation or thermochemical processes, their enzyme-driven system operates under ambient conditions and consumes roughly ten times less energy. This makes the process more accessible and sustainable while keeping production costs viable for commercial use. The resulting cellulose products can directly replace conventional materials used in fashion, packaging, and beyond, without requiring infrastructure overhauls.
Rubi’s work has already caught the attention of major global retailers. The startup is piloting its materials with Walmart, Patagonia, and H&M, indicating strong market readiness and cross-sector demand. These partnerships reflect the potential of the technology to significantly reduce carbon footprints without disrupting established manufacturing systems.
Neeka and Leila, both 28, grew up in California’s San Francisco Bay Area, immersed in both nature and entrepreneurial energy. With early exposure to science and fashion, they pursued complementary academic paths—Neeka in materials science and business, and Leila in medicine and enzymatic bioengineering at Harvard. Their shared vision led to the founding of Rubi in 2021, driven by a mission to integrate climate solutions into core manufacturing processes.
According to Neeka, the invention hinges on enzymes acting like nature’s engineers, breaking down and rebuilding molecules into new, useful materials. Leila describes them as being similar to Pacman, consuming one compound and converting it into another form that serves a manufacturing purpose. The Rubi system allows carbon to be seen not as waste, but as a valuable raw input for diverse products.
While initially focused on textiles, the implications of Rubi’s technology stretch across industries such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food packaging, and even building materials—anywhere that cellulose is a foundational input. By offering licensing opportunities, the Mashouf sisters aim to enable global manufacturers to shift toward a climate-aligned model that reduces environmental strain and supports circular production practices.
Rubi exemplifies a new wave of innovation where science, entrepreneurship, and sustainability converge. In transforming carbon into a building block of eco-friendly manufacturing, Neeka and Leila Mashouf are reshaping what it means to create with climate responsibility at the core.
