The production of nylon is similar to that of polyester, with similar environmental consequences. Like polyester, nylon is made from a non-renewable resource oil in an energy-intensive process. It sheds microplastic fibers that end up in waterways and oceans every time it is washed, and because it is not biodegradable, it will end up sitting in a landfill at the end of its product life cycle.
As an organization, Textile Exchange supports the apparel and textiles sector in switching to preferable materials that have a more positive impact on people and the environment compared to conventional.
Recycled nylon is considered a preferred alternative to virgin nylon and bio-based nylons produced with renewable raw materials potentially offer a promising alternative. Recycled nylon is usually made from pre-consumer fabric waste, although it also may come from post-consumer materials such as industrial fishing nets.
Probably the best-known regenerated nylon product is Econyl, the first post-consumer recycled nylon to hit the market from Italian manufacturer Aquafil. Econyl is made of nylon waste from landfills and oceans in a closed-loop process and is infinitely recyclable. According to Aquafil, Econyl avoids about 50 percent of carbon dioxide emissions and uses about 50 percent less energy compared to virgin nylon yarns.
Bio-based nylon uses renewable feedstocks, such as Fulgar's Evo made from percent castor oil instead of petroleum. Independently verifiable sustainability standards for bio-based materials are emerging and will offer the industry much-needed guidance on renewable feedstock sustainability.
Textile Exchange's multi-stakeholder Biosynthetics Round Table, chaired by Brad Boren, director of innovation and sustainability at Norrona, is exploring the topic of raw materials sustainability in this area.
There are some key activities that top performers in the nylon category have in common. These should serve as inspiration for any companies looking to push their preferred synthetic programs to the next level. Plus polymers, or plastics, are cheap to buy new which may be why many companies choose to use polyethylene terephthalate PET — the most common type of plastic found in soda and water bottles — instead. Contamination is another concern.
Unlike metals and glass, which are melted at high temperatures, nylon is melted at a lower temperature, meaning some contaminants — non-recyclable materials and microbes or bacteria — can survive. This is why all nylons have to be cleaned thoroughly before the recycling process.
Or if companies had to take back part of what they produced. In fact it will fix any pair of glasses free of charge, or provide customers with new frames if their product is beyond repair. Old frames are recycled. And another Italian manufacturer Aquafil has nylon fibers in its carpets.
After nearly 40 years of producing carpet yarn, a growing awareness of the environmental harm caused by synthetic materials made it want to turn towards a more environmentally friendly business model. In , Aquafil began developing a machine that can churn through most kinds of nylons, producing new threads ready to be repurposed. Aquafil now sells these threads, called Econyl, to American brands such as Outerknown, an LA-based outerwear company started by pro surfer Kelly Slater, and swimwear giant Speedo.
LA-based Masami Shigematsu works on product development for Speedo. She says that she had been actively searching for recycled nylon for years before she found Econyl.
Our products are being used by athletes who need it to function as good as new material. Last year, Speedo rolled out two products with Econyl and has since expanded to include more than 50 products made with the material. Has corporate social responsibility become the modern gold rush?
California-based Patagonia has also been adding more recycled nylon to its lineup. Currently, the company has more than 50 products that contain recycled nylon in various percentages.
It took Patagonia nearly 15 years to develop the technology to recycle polyester to a point where it was as good as virgin polyester. Patagonia wants to go further than just use recycled nylon in its products. How to they Recycle Nylon. How to recycle or reuse nylon bags. How to recycle or reuse nylon fabric. Leftover nylon fabric from a sewing project is a great material to reuse. See if your community has an organization that provides fabric and supplies to artists and schools.
If you have nylon clothing you want to recycle, and you purchased that clothing from popular outdoor gear manufacturer Patagonia, you can return it to the company for recycling. How to recycle and reuse nylons or tights. But, definitely there is the good side to it. Nylon is a plastic that can be recycled. There are several brands and accreditations that can help consumers find more sustainable nylon products.
Econyl has developed an eco-friendly nylon made from recycled plastics in a closed loop system, drastically reducing waste and emissions. Nylon may certainly not be great for the environment, but there are plenty of brands working hard to turn that around! Swadesh Official Blog of Unnati Silks.
Desi Vogue Fiber Talk. Bollywood Barfi. The advantages of Nylon as a material First developed in the s as an alternative to silk, there are lots of great qualities about the fabric. Good sources of clean, pure postconsumer nylon are difficult to find. Sign up for exclusive offers, original stories, activism awareness, events and more from Patagonia. Create a free Patagonia account. By providing your email address, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
Let your gear give again That Patagonia jacket you don't wear anymore might be on someone's wish list. Trade In. Login Account. Open Menu. Shop Activism Sports Stories. Recycled Nylon. Why Nylon is one of the strongest plastics we use in our products. Where We Are To meet our goal of moving completely from using virgin content to recycled content, we need recycled nylon to continue making some of our favorite technical jackets and garments and to maintain our performance standards.
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