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

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.