On February 20, lululemon partnered with Australian environmental technology startup Samsara Eco to launch the world’s first enzymatically recycled nylon 6,6 product, marking an important milestone in textile-to-textile recycling and lululemon’s creation of a circular ecology System work. lululemon sampled its signature Swiftly Tech long-sleeve top using regenerated nylon 6,6 made with Samsara Eco technology, the first time such nylon has been recycled in this way.
Approximately 4 million tons of nylon 6,6 are produced every year, which is one of the most commonly used plastics in the textile industry and is the base fiber from which lululemon makes many of its best-selling products, such as Align and Wunder Train leggings. Nylon 6,6 is notoriously difficult to recycle and has been widely used in industries such as fashion, automotive and electronics due to its tough and durable properties. Today, regenerated nylon is often made from post-industrial material waste, and there are a limited number of recycled alternatives that meet lululemon’s product performance standards. Samsara Eco’s technology works by using engineered enzymes to break down synthetic blends of nylon 6,6 and recreate nylon 6,6, which can then be turned back into clothing.
Yogendra Dandapure, vice president of raw material innovation at lululemon, said: “The lululemon Swiftly top samples transcend material innovation – they represent the exciting possibilities and impact that can be achieved through collaboration and cross-industry collaboration. This breakthrough not only marks the beginning of sustainability in apparel This is a tipping point for innovation and marks a milestone for all industries looking to move to a more circular model. We look forward to continuing to work with Samsara Eco to help promote this new technology in the months and years ahead.”
With over 90% of the nylon used in each lululemon Swiftly top sample produced using Samsara Eco’s enzyme recycling process, the samples provide the same fit, feel and quality that guests have come to expect from lululemon products. Swiftly samples also showcase the company’s end-to-end circular vision, taking lululemon nylon garments (including lululemon leggings) at their end-of-life stage and combining them with other non-textile materials to create recycled content for new lululemon products nylon.
Paul Riley, CEO and founder of Samsara Eco, said: “Our partnership with lululemon represents a groundbreaking step in tackling the textile waste challenge and demonstrates the potential to create a fully circular ecosystem for apparel. We start from nylon 6,6 to start, but as we continue to expand our library of plastic-eating enzymes, this sets a trajectory of possibilities for recycling across a range of industries. This is a hugely important one for the future of sustainable fashion and circularity moment.”
Previously reported:
lululemon has announced a multi-year collaboration with Australian eco-tech startup Samsara Eco to expand circularity through textile-to-textile recycling. Through this innovative collaboration, lululemon is working to use this circular process to create infinitely recycled nylon and polyester from its products.
This partnership is the latest example of the company’s Be Planet ambition and an exciting step towards enabling a circular ecosystem by 2030. Samsara Eco is a leader in unlimited plastics recycling, recycling the high-performance nylon and polyester blends that are at the heart of lululemon products.
“Nylon remains our greatest opportunity to achieve our 2030 sustainable product goals. This partnership demonstrates what is possible through collective innovation to address unmet needs,” said Yogendra Dandapure, Vice President of Raw Materials Innovation at lululemon. “Through Samsara Eco’s patented enzymes Processing processes, we are advancing the conversion of garment waste into high-quality nylon and polyester, which will help us achieve our end-to-end circular vision.”
This is lululemon’s first minority investment in a recycling company and Samsara Eco’s first collaboration in the apparel industry. Following last year’s $56 million in first-round financing, lululemon’s partnership and investment comes as Samsara Eco prepares for commercialization, bringing unlimited recycling potential to the fashion industry. This is an important milestone in Samsara Eco’s roadmap to recycle 1.5 million tons of plastic per year by 2030. Together, the two companies will use apparel waste to create new recycled nylon and polyester, bringing low-impact alternatives to important materials for the performance apparel industry.
Ted Dagnese, chief supply chain officer at lululemon, said: “Our partnership with Samsara Eco is a foundational step towards a circular ecosystem. We are driving innovation across the entire value chain, which we believe will be critical to the global performance apparel industry and our zero-energy Excited about the meaning of the journey.”
Circularity will play a big role in the future of retail and apparel. lululemon is advancing its value chain, including
Sustainable Materials: Last April, lululemon launched its first products made from renewable-sourced plant-based nylon as part of a multi-year collaboration with sustainable materials leader Geno.
Customer Experience: at lululemoContinued strong performance and high engagement in n’s Like New re-commerce program extends the design life of the product.
Textile-to-textile recycling: With Samsara Eco, lululemon is recycling its apparel into new products, using waste to transform recycled nylon and polyester.
“We are proud that this partnership is disrupting the apparel industry. With the ability to infinitely recycle mixed textiles, including nylon, Samsara Eco provides an important solution to the challenge of textile waste. This is unprecedented and partnering with lululemon is An important milestone that will accelerate the closed-loop journey of textile recycling,” said Paul Reilly, CEO and founder of Samsara Eco.
Lululemon is committed to making products that are better in every way by setting science-based goals that underpin the climate action goals outlined in the brand’s Impact Agenda.
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