Enviro-tech innovator Samsara Eco and nylon 6,6 producer NILIT, have announced plans to construct a nylon 6,6 textile-to-textile recycling facility to help close the loop on nylon 6,6.
The facility, to be built in South East Asia, is expected to be operational by 2026 and will be capable of recycling textile waste, producing recycled nylon 6,6 polymers for textile brands and manufacturers to create new textile fabrics, infinitely.
About four million tonnes of nylon 6,6 is created every year. It is one of the most widely used fibres in the performance apparel and fashion industries. However, it is notoriously difficult to recycle and when blended with other fibres like spandex, it increases the challenge.
Samsara Eco has developed a new way to break plastic down to its core molecules, which can then be used to recreate brand-new plastic.
EosEco is the world’s first technology to infinitely recycle nylon 6,6 by combining biophysics, chemistry, biology and computer science (such as Artificial Intelligence) to create a family of plastic-eating enzymes.
The enzymes break down plastic waste, including textiles made from nylon 6,6 into raw materials, which are then s integrated into existing manufacturing processes to create a truly closed loop.
EosEco can recycle a breadth of feedstock inputs, including coloured and blended textiles such as nylon 6,6 with spandex.
Paul Riley, Chief Executive Officer and Founder Samsara Eco said the vision is to deliver climate repair through infinite recycling.
“One of the ways we’re achieving this is by creating the first circular pathway for nylon 6,6,” he said.
“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.”
Ilan Melamed, NILIT General Manager said their partnership with Samsara Eco is a critical step in NILIT’s strategy.
“Implementing textile-to-textile recycling solutions will substantially decrease global carbon emissions and reduce the 92 million tonnes of textile waste added to landfills annually,” he said.
For more information, https://www.samsaraeco.com/
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