ECONYL® REGENERATED NYLON
ECONYL® fiber is a sustainable nylon 6 yarn developed by Aquafil, a pioneer in the synthetic fiber industry. ECONYL® yarn is not technically different in any way from other standard nylon 6 yarns except for its origin, it is 100% recovered from waste. In an effort to reduce the amount of nylon waste polluting the environment, Aquafil has found a use for pre- and post-consumer waste by recycling and regenerating nylon waste into new, fully functional ECONYL® nylon yarn. ECONYL® regenerated nylon is exactly the same as fossil-based nylon.
The ECONYL® Regeneration System starts with rescuing discarded fishing nets, carpet flooring, industrial plastics, and any other nylon waste that is no longer being used and polluting the Earth. The waste is then sorted and cleaned to recover as much nylon as possible. Through a radical regeneration and purification process, the nylon waste is recycled right back to its original purity. ECONYL® regenerated nylon is then processed into yarns and polymers for the fashion and interior design industries, enabling manufacturers to create brand new products without having to use new resources.
Traditional nylon is a synthetic compound made from fossil fuels. According to econyl.com, for every 10,000 tons of ECONYL® raw material, Aquafil is able to save 70,000 barrels of crude oil and avoid 65,100 tons of CO2 emissions from entering the atmosphere, essentially eliminating the fiber’s impact on global warming.
The ECONYL® regeneration process does not require the use of chemicals but happens through depolymerization. ECONYL® yarn is made in a renewable energy process that eliminates nearly 90% of the CO2 emissions required to make nylon from petroleum. The regenerative process is so effective at creating new nylon yarns that it is essentially a closed-loop system that will enable Aquafil to manufacture ECONYL® nylon indefinitely without ever using another barrel of oil again, and that’s exactly how to manufacture in a circular economy.
The ECONYL® Regeneration System is an admirable effort to collect and recycle nylon scraps, helping to reduce the yarn’s impact on global warming. ECONYL® nylon is a sustainable yarn made from waste that is infinitely recyclable and OEKO TEX certified. ECONYL® yarn provides designers, manufacturers and consumers an unlimited opportunity to craft a future in the textile industry that is environmentally responsible and respectful.
