Athletic apparel company Lululemon has announced a multi-year partnership with biotechnology firm ZymoChem to support the development and commercialisation of bio-based nylon, a key step in the company’s drive towards more sustainable materials.
The collaboration focuses on creating a renewable alternative to adipic acid, one of the core chemical components in nylon 6,6, a material widely used in Lululemon products such as its Align and Wunder Train leggings. Traditionally derived from petroleum, adipic acid is now being reimagined through ZymoChem’s biotechnology platform.
Following an initial investment last year, Lululemon and ZymoChem are now working on scaling the production of this bio-based nylon to support future commercial use.
“What sets ZymoChem apart is their ability to produce sustainable nylon 6,6 that retains the performance characteristics our customers expect,” said Yogendra Dandapure, Vice President of Raw Materials Innovation at Lululemon. He added that the collaboration forms part of a wider strategy to incorporate sustainable materials across the company’s product range.
The announcement builds on Lululemon’s partnerships with other material innovation companies, including Geno, and last year’s milestone with Samsara Eco, which produced the first enzymatically recycled nylon 6,6 garment, demonstrating the feasibility of textile-to-textile recycling for this complex fibre.
ZymoChem’s Co-Founder and CEO, Harshal Chokhawala, stated: “We are excited to strengthen our collaboration with Lululemon as we work to scale our bio-based, decarbonised nylon technology globally.”
The partnership reflects Lululemon’s broader commitment to investing in renewable and recycled innovations, as it seeks to transition towards preferred materials and develop circular solutions for the apparel industry.
