Samsara Eco and NILIT to Establish Nylon 6,6 Recycling Facility
14.10.2024
Samsara Eco, a leader in environmental technology, and NILIT, the world’s top producer of nylon 6,6 for apparel, have announced plans to build a cutting-edge facility in South East Asia to recycle nylon 6,6 textiles. The plant, expected to be operational by late 2026, will enable circularity in the textile industry, offering high-quality recycled polymers for brand use.
Nylon 6,6 is one of the most widely used fibers in the apparel and fashion industry, with approximately 4 million tonnes produced each year. Despite its popularity in performance wear, its recycling has proven difficult—especially when blended with other fibers like spandex. The collaboration between Samsara Eco and NILIT targets this challenge, with the aim of establishing a unique recycling pathway for nylon 6,6 textiles.
The new facility, scheduled for completion by late 2026, will be capable of recycling textile waste into high-quality nylon 6,6 polymers. This recycled polymer can be integrated seamlessly into supply chains, allowing manufacturers and brands to create new textile fabrics sustainably. According to Paul Riley, CEO and Founder of Samsara Eco, the company's vision is to “deliver climate repair through infinite recycling,” with a focus on creating circular pathways for materials like nylon 6,6. “Discarded clothing made from nylon 6,6, such as activewear, and even products like car interiors, typically end up in landfill or are incinerated at the end of life, which has dire consequences for our planet,” said Riley.
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Sarah Cook, Chief Commercial and Operations Officer of Samsara Eco, highlights the impact of the partnership in achieving textile circularity:
“By working with NILIT, we can reverse this trend and give apparel a new life. The MoU agreement is an important step to help brands and the world advance nylon 6,6 circularity and reduce plastic waste.”
The collaboration between Samsara Eco and NILIT sets a global precedent for textile-to-textile recycling and is a significant move towards reducing the 92 million tonnes of textile waste that currently end up in landfills annually. The partnership aims to provide the apparel market with premium nylon 6,6 products while lowering environmental impact.
“Together, NILIT and Samsara Eco have the potential to produce infinitely recycled nylon 6,6 that delivers outstanding fabric quality and performance while benefitting the planet,” explained Ilan Melamed, NILIT General Manager.
Central to this initiative is EosEco™, the world’s first technology for infinitely recycling nylon 6,6. This technology combines biophysics, chemistry, biology, and computer science (such as AI) to create a family of plastic-eating enzymes. These enzymes break down textile waste made from nylon 6,6 into raw materials that can be reintegrated into manufacturing processes.
EosEco™ can process various inputs, including colored and blended textiles like nylon 6,6 mixed with spandex. By working in conjunction with NILIT’s advanced polymerization, spinning, and production technologies, EosEco™ will facilitate the creation of premium-quality recycled nylon 6,6 yarn for global consumption.