BRAZIL (From news reports) -- Cotton is about to get its biggest new competitor since polyester emerged some decades ago. That's the hope of pulp producers looking to upend the textile industry with a green, price-competitive fiber.

The world's largest pulp maker Suzano SA is developing a fiber made from dissolved pulp, which aims to be more efficient than the viscose currently used in the clothing market, Chief Financial Officer Marcelo Bacci said in an interview in Sao Paulo.

The executive declined to provide more details on the product, which is expected to be launched in the medium to long term, he said. Today, polyester dominates global textiles, followed by cotton. Pricier traditional viscose accounts for a small portion.

"We have huge potential to replace petroleum-based products, from the most traditional ones like single-use plastics to other uses like in the textile industry," Bacci said. "We are researching in total seven technological routes that include nano cellulose to cosmetics."