Samsara Eco, a leading enviro-tech innovator, and NILIT, the world’s leading producer of nylon 6,6 for apparel, have announced plans to explore the investment and construction of a nylon 6,6 textile-to-textile recycling facility in Southeast Asia. This initiative aims to close the loop on nylon 6,6, making significant strides toward sustainability in the apparel industry.
“NILIT’s partnership with Samsara Eco is a pivotal component of our comprehensive strategy to provide the apparel market with premium nylon 6,6 products that have a reduced environmental impact,” said Ilan Melamed, NILIT General Manager.
Each year, approximately 4 million tonnes of nylon 6,6 are produced, making it one of the most widely used fibers in performance apparel and fashion. Despite its popularity, nylon 6,6 is notoriously difficult to recycle, particularly when blended with other fibers like spandex. Samsara Eco and NILIT are tackling this challenge head-on, seeking to develop innovative recycling solutions.
The anticipated facility, slated to be operational by late 2026, will be uniquely equipped to recycle textile waste and produce high-quality recycled nylon 6,6 polymers. These polymers can be seamlessly integrated into existing supply chains, enabling textile brands and manufacturers to create new fabrics in a sustainable, closed-loop system.
“Our 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,” said Paul Riley, CEO and Founder of Samsara Eco. “Typically, discarded clothing made from nylon 6,6, such as activewear or car interiors, ends up in landfills or is incinerated, which has severe consequences for our planet.”
Sarah Cook, Chief Commercial and Operations Officer of Samsara Eco, emphasized the importance of the collaboration: “By working with NILIT, we can reverse this trend and give apparel a new life. The MoU agreement is a crucial step in advancing nylon 6,6 circularity and reducing plastic waste. We’re proud to explore a pilot recycling facility with NILIT, setting a precedent for future global partnerships.”
NILIT’s partnership with Samsara Eco is part of its multi-pronged strategy to provide the apparel market with environmentally friendly nylon 6,6 products. By implementing textile-to-textile recycling solutions, the collaboration aims to substantially decrease global carbon emissions and reduce the 92 million tonnes of textile waste added to landfills annually. Together, NILIT and Samsara Eco have the potential to produce infinitely recycled nylon 6,6 that delivers outstanding fabric quality and performance while benefiting the planet.
Samsara Eco’s EosEco™ technology is the world’s first to infinitely recycle nylon 6,6. This groundbreaking technology combines biophysics, chemistry, biology, and computer science, including AI, to create plastic-eating enzymes. These enzymes break down plastic waste, including textiles made from nylon 6,6, into raw materials that can be seamlessly integrated into existing manufacturing processes, creating a truly closed loop. EosEco™ can recycle a wide range of feedstock inputs, including colored and blended textiles like nylon 6,6 with spandex. When combined with NILIT’s unique polymerization, spinning, and technology, EosEco™ can produce premium recycled nylon 6,6 yarn for global consumption.
About NILIT
Celebrating 50 years of excellence, NILIT offers the broadest collection of premium sustainable nylon 6,6 yarns designed to empower the apparel industry’s shift towards sustainability. As the global leader in nylon 6,6 yarns for apparel, NILIT is dedicated to creating innovative and sustainable solutions that advance the textile industry. NILIT will integrate Samsara Eco’s EosEco™-produced yarn into its SENSIL® preferred portfolio, which is manufactured according to NILIT’s Total Product Sustainability criteria. These responsible yarns provide designers with the environmentally considerate performance fabrics they need to create apparel collections that meet consumer demands.
About Samsara Eco
Samsara Eco is at the forefront of ending plastic pollution through advanced enzymatic recycling. With breakthrough science, Samsara Eco has developed a new method to break plastic down to its core molecules, which can then be used to recreate brand-new plastic, repeatedly. Its patented technology, EosEco™, is a first-of-its-kind process that is genuinely better for the planet.
Samsara Eco’s community is united by the mission to divert plastic from landfills and oceans, eliminating the need to create plastic from fossil fuels. This mission, supported by partnerships like the one with the Australian National University (ANU), has fueled Samsara Eco’s growth since its launch in 2020. Backed by Main Sequence and Woolworths Group’s W23, the company has raised over AUD $160M in funding from local and global investors, including Breakthrough Victoria, DCVC, Hitachi, lululemon, Temasek, Wildcard Ventures, Wollemi Capital, and more.
