Canadian sports clothing company lululemon is partnering with California-based biotechnology developer ZymoChem to scale up production of bio-based nylon for its clothing range.
As part of the initial stages of the partnership, the companies had been working together to create a bio-based version of adipic acid, one of the key building blocks of nylon 6,6 traditionally produced from petroleum, lululemon said on 19 March.
Nylon 6,6 is used in many of lululemon’s products including its Align and Wunder Train leggings.
lululemon said the next phase of the partnership would focus on scaling ZymoChem’s technologies to support the commercialisation of the bio-based nylon.
ZymoChem uses microbial fermentation to convert sugar-derived raw materials into chemical building blocks for producing nylon and other bio-based polymers.
“ZymoChem’s technology is capable of producing a bio-based material to create sustainable nylon 6,6 that provides the same look, feel and quality expected from our … products,” Yogendra Dandapure, vice president, Raw Materials Innovation, at lululemon, said.
“By continuing to expand our partnerships …, we’re creating multiple pathways to transition to sustainable materials across our product portfolio.”
ZymoChem co-founder and CEO Harshal Chokhawala said the company had spent years refining its patented Carbon Conserving process to develop a sustainable version of nylon.
