#Recycling / Circular Economy

2024-08-29

Samsara Eco and NILIT team up to build world-first Nylon 6,6 recycling facility

Samsara Eco, the enviro-tech innovator and NILIT, the world’s leader in the production of nylon 6,6 for apparel, have announced plans to explore investment and construction of a nylon 6,6 textile-to-textile recycled polymer production site in South East Asia to help close the loop on nylon 6,6.

Roughly 4 million tonnes of nylon 6,6 is created every year, it is one of the most widely used fibers in the performance apparel and fashion industries. However, it is notoriously difficult to recycle and when blended with other fibres like spandex, it increases the challenge. Together, Samsara Eco and NILIT are seeking to address this issue head-on.

Aiming to be operational by late 2026, the anticipated facility will be uniquely capable of recycling textile waste, producing high-quality recycled nylon 6,6 polymers, for textile brands and manufacturers to seamlessly use in their existing supply chains to create new textile fabrics, infinitely.

“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. Discarded clothing made from nylon 6,6 such as activewear, and even products like car interiors, typically end up in landfill or are incinerated at the end of life, which has dire consequences for our planet,” said Paul Riley, CEO and Founder of Samsara Eco.

Sarah Cook, Chief Commercial and Operations Officer of Samsara Eco also commented on the agreement: “By working with NILIT, we can reverse this trend and give apparel a new life. The MoU agreement is an important step to help brands and the world advance nylon 6,6 circularity and reduce plastic waste. We’re proud to be exploring a pilot recycling facility with NILIT, setting a precedent of what’s possible for future partners globally.”

“NILIT’s partnership with Samsara Eco is a critical step in our multi-pronged strategy to provide the apparel market with premium nylon 6,6 products that have lower environmental impact,” explained Ilan Melamed, NILIT General Manager. “Implementing textile-to-textile recycling solutions will 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 benefitting the planet.”

EosEco™ is the world's first technology to infinitely recycle nylon 6,6 by combining biophysics, chemistry, biology and computer science (such as AI) to create a family of plastic-eating enzymes. The enzymes break down plastic waste, including textiles made from nylon 6,6 into raw materials, which are then seamlessly integrated into existing manufacturing processes to create a truly closed loop. EosEco™ can recycle a breadth of feedstock inputs, including coloured and blended textiles like nylon 6,6 with spandex. EosEco™, together with NILIT’s unique polymerization, spinning and technology will be able to create premium recycled Nylon 6, 6 yarn for global consumption.

NILIT announces strategic expansions, including a joint venture with Shenma in China

NILIT, the global leader in high-performance Nylon 6.6 fibers for the apparel industry and leader in sustainability, that owns the broadest line of sustainable Nylon 6.6 products, is announcing a new joint venture with Shenma Industry Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Shenma), a subsidiary of China Pingmei Shenma Group, a global leader in the industrial Nylon 6.6 market and a leading supplier to the automotive industry around the world.

NILIT goes circular with SENSIL® Flow

NILIT, the global market leader, and a producer of high quality Nylon 6.6 for apparel and owner of the SENSIL® brand, introduces SENSIL® Flow, a new approach to Nylon 6.6 circularity that enables yarn, fabric, and, ultimately, apparel recycling to eliminate waste and further reduce apparel’s environmental impact. SENSIL® Flow is more than just a sustainable performance product. It is an innovative approach that engages the entire supply chain to truly attain circularity through product design and partnership.

Industrial scale meets verified governance: RE&UP is now B Corp™ certified

RE&UP, the circular-tech transforming global textile waste into high-volume Next-Gen materials, has officially become a Certified B Corporation™. The milestone establishes the industrial recycler among a select group of manufacturing infrastructure providers verified as meeting B Lab Standards for social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.

Recover™ and Ünteks Group partner to scale recycled cotton in knitwear

Recover(TM), a global producer of low‐impact, high‐quality recycled cotton fiber, announces a new partnership with Ünteks Group, a vertically integrated textile manufacturer based in Turkey. The collaboration focuses on the development of circular knit fabrics and garments, combining Recover’s recycled cotton fiber with Ünteks Group’s integrated capabilities across knitting, dyeing, printing, and garment production.

ALADIN paves the way for circular and demand-driven textile production in Europe

Textile production can be organized sustainably by utilizing short supply chains and preventing overproduction. This can already be achieved today by intelligently connecting and efficiently utilizing existing infrastructure. At the same time, production becomes circular when innovative technologies and materials are used that enable high-quality recycling. The ALADIN research project, launched in May 2026 and co-funded with five million euros under the EU Horizon Europe program, is creating the conditions for this.

Ence and ShareTex begin initial testing of the ATENEA innovation project to promote textile recycling in Spain

Ence and ShareTex are making progress on the Atenea R&D project, which aims to develop a complete value chain for textile recycling in Spain. Specifically, the goal of the ATENEA project—which is funded by the Center for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI)—is to connect all the necessary stages for the recovery of textile waste, from collection and management, through recycling and transformation into new raw materials, to their incorporation into new textile products.

Rieter sees Barmag integration on track as orders and sales rise

The first half of 2026 was shaped by the successful completion of the largest acquisition in Rieter’s history. The Man-Made Fiber Division enables entry into the growth segment of man-made fibers and sustainably strengthens Rieter’s market position in the Asia region. The expanded Group is now the world’s leading system supplier for the processing of natural and man-made fibers. In the first half of the year, initial cost savings in material costs and operating expenses have already been realized. The targeted synergies are expected to amount to at least CHF 20 million by the end of the 2028 financial year. Due to the completion of the acquisition on February 2, 2026, the first half of the year for the Man-Made Fiber Division only amounts to five months.