BASF and Inditex Pioneer Sustainable Fashion with Loopamid, the First Circular Nylon 6 from Textile Waste
In a groundbreaking collaboration, BASF and Inditex have unveiled Loopamid®, a revolutionary polyamide 6 (PA6), also known as nylon 6, entirely derived from textile waste. This innovation marks a significant stride towards boosting recyclability in the textile industry, offering a circular solution for nylon apparel crafted from 100 percent textile waste. Zara, under the Inditex umbrella, has already transformed Loopamid into a jacket, showcasing the material’s versatility, and it is now available globally.
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Loopamid represents a leap forward in circularity for the fashion industry, enabling the recycling of polyamide 6 textile waste through a cutting-edge technology that accommodates fabric mixtures like PA6 and elastane. This breakthrough allows for textile-to-textile recycling of both post-industrial and post-consumer textile waste, with fibers and materials capable of enduring multiple cycles. Importantly, Loopamid retains material characteristics identical to those of conventional virgin polyamide.
Dr. Ramkumar Dhruva, President of BASF’s Monomers division, emphasized the milestone reached toward circularity in fashion, stating, “Our Loopamid has the potential to revolutionize the PA6 market, proving that circularity is possible.” BASF is actively scaling up the technology to meet commercial demands, further driving the sustainable transformation of the textile industry.
Inditex, aligning with ambitious sustainability goals, integrates Loopamid into various garment components, fostering a circular approach. The collaboration involves leading groups in the clothing manufacturing industry, with contributions from ModaRe, RadiciGroup, YKK, Velcro, Uniter, Tessitura Vignetta, Freudenberg, and Gütermann. The joint effort addresses the need for new collecting and recycling capacities to achieve a circular solution and scale recycling for post-consumer waste.
Javier Losada, Inditex’s Chief Sustainability Officer, praised the collaboration as a prime example of using technology to transform textile waste into a valuable resource. Both BASF and Inditex are committed to ambitious sustainability goals by 2030, emphasizing circular solutions, new material cycles, and innovative business models to drive positive change in the fashion industry. Loopamid stands as a testament to the transformative power of collaboration in creating a more responsible and sustainable future for fashion.
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