Global athleticwear brand Lululemon has partnered with Australian enviro-tech startup Samsara Eco to debut the world’s first enzymatically recycled nylon 6,6 product.
Lululemon created samples of its Swiftly Tech Long-Sleeve Top using recycled nylon 6,6 from Samsara Eco, representing the first time this type of nylon has been recycled in this way.
"The Lululemon Swiftly top samples go beyond material innovation – they represent the exciting possibilities and impact that can be achieved through collaboration and cross-industry partnership,” Lululemon VP of raw materials innovation Yogendra Dandapure said.
“This breakthrough not only signals a turning point for sustainable innovation in apparel but for all industries looking to shift towards more circular models.
“We look forward to continuing to work with Samsara Eco to help scale this new technology in the months and years ahead.”
Roughly 4 million tonnes of nylon 6,6 is created per year. It is commonly used in the textile industry and is a key fibre used by Lululemon to make many of its core products.
"Until now, textile-to-textile nylon 6,6 has been unrecyclable,” Samsara Eco founder and CEO Paul Riley said. “The samples we have created with Lululemon represent a world-first breakthrough for the future of textile waste.
“Our work with Lululemon shows the potential to give clothes an infinite life.”
Over 90% of the nylon used in each of the Lululemon Swiftly top samples is produced using Samsara’s enzymatic recycling process.
Compared to the production of virgin nylon 6,6, Riley said Samsara Eco’s infinite recycling process reduces emissions and has the potential to save tens of millions of tonnes of carbon emissions.
“We’ve started with nylon 6,6, but this sets the trajectory of what’s possible for recycling across a range of industries as we continue expanding our library of plastic-eating enzymes.
“This is one giant leap for the future of sustainable fashion and circularity.”