Econyl regenerated
nylon
Nylon is a family of synthetic polymers characterised by amide linkages, typically connecting aliphatic or Polyamide#Classification, semi-aromatic groups.
Nylons are generally brownish in color and can possess a soft texture, with some varieti ...
is a material and a brand introduced in 2011 by Aquafil.
It is made entirely from waste otherwise polluting the Earth, such as industrial discards, fabric scraps from clothing manufacturing companies,
old carpets and fishing nets (mainly from the aquaculture industry). The material has been used by
Stella McCartney (handbag linings, backpacks, outerware, etc.),
Kelly Slater
Robert Kelly Slater (born February 11, 1972) is an American professional surfer who has been crowned World Surf League champion a record 11 times. He is widely regarded as the greatest professional surfer of all time, and holds 56 Championship T ...
's label Outerknown,
Adidas
Adidas AG (; stylized in all lowercase since 1949) is a German athletic apparel and footwear corporation headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, Germany. It is the largest sportswear manufacturer in Europe, and the second largest in the ...
and
Speedo
Speedo International Limited is an Australian-British distributor of Swimsuit, swimwear and swim-related accessories based in Nottingham, England.
Founded in Sydney, Australia in 1914 by Alexander MacRae, a Scottish emigrant, the company is n ...
swimwear,
Levi's,
Breitling (watch straps), and many other brands from the fashion and interior industries.
Aquafil began nylon recycling in the 1990s, but did not begin exploration of a comprehensive nylon reuse cycle until 2007, which ultimately led to the development of Econyl Regeneration System and the associated closed-loop process in 2011.
For every 10,000 tons of Econyl raw material, it is possible to save 70,000 barrels of crude oil .
Further, the material can be continuously recycled without loss of quality.
Aquafil facilities for the collection and recycling of nylon materials include a carpet recycling plant in the United States (in Phoenix, Arizona).
Recycling involves breaking down the nylon polymer into monomers, and then re-polymerizing the nylon them into brend-new nylon; the breakdown process is done with temperature, steam and catalysts, in a renewable energy-driven process.
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Synthetic fibers
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