Econyl

Econyl regenerated nylon is a product introduced in 2011 by Aquafil.[1] It is made entirely from ocean and landfill waste, such as industrial plastic, fabric scraps from clothing manufacturing companies,[2] old carpets and "ghost nets" (lost or abandoned fishing nets).[1][3] The product has been used by Stella McCartney (handbag linings, backpacks, outerware, etc.), Kelly Slater's label Outerknown, Adidas and Speedo swimwear, Levi's, Breitling (watch straps), and Rapanui.[1][2][4][5]

Aquafil began nylon recycling in the 1990s, but did not begin exploration of a comprehensive nylon reuse cycle until 2007, which ultimately led to the development of Econyl and the associated closed-loop process in 2011.[2]

Reusing nylon to make Econyl reduces the global warming impact of nylon by 80% compared with the material produced from oil.[6] Further, the material can be continuously recycled without loss of quality in the finished product.[5]

Aquafil facilities for the collection and recycling of nylon materials include two carpet recycling plants in the United States (in Phoenix, Arizona and Sacramento, California) and a net and carpet recycling facility in Slovenia.[2] Recycling involves breaking down the nylon polymer into monomers, then re-polymerizing the nylon; the breakdown process is done with only temperature and steam, without the use of chemical agents, in a renewable energy driven process.[2]

References
  1. Ankeny, Jason (December 2015). "From Shredding to Recycling". Entrepreneur (Cover story). Vol. 43 no. 12. Irvine, California: Entrepreneur Media, Inc. pp. 52–3. Retrieved 26 June 2020 – via Internet Archive.
  2. Thomas, Dana (2019). Fashionopolis. New York: Penguin Random House (Penguin Press). pp. 200–2. ISBN 9780735224018 – via Google Books.
  3. Millar, Aaron (June 2019). "The Net Gain of Plastic". National Geographic Traveller (Sidebar) (UK ed.). London: apl media. p. 195. Retrieved 26 June 2020 – via Internet Archive.
  4. Sangode PB, Metre SG (April 2019). "Green supply chain practices for environmental sustainability: A proposed framework for manufacturing firms". International Journal of Mechanical and Production Engineering Research and Development. Trans Stellar. 9 (2): 294 – via Internet Archive. Adidas has also created Parley swimwear, using recycled fishing nets up-cycled into a technical yarn fiber named Econyl, which offers the same properties as the regular nylon used to make swimwear.
  5. Karthik T, Rathinamoorthy R (2017). "Sustainable synthetic fibre production". In Muthu SS (ed.). Sustainable Fibres and Textiles. The Textile Institute Book Series. Elsevier (Woodhead). p. 221. ISBN 978-0-08-102041-8 – via Google Books.
  6. "The Process". Econyl. 2018-03-12. Retrieved 2020-04-19.

Further reading
  • Sylvia Klimaki (January 2020). "Industries Adapt to Address the Climate and Ecological Crisis". The Hourglass (4): 1.


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