BASF and Inditex introduce nylon recycling solution

BASF, the leading European chemical producer, and fashion giant Inditex have joined forces to advance recyclability in the textile industry through the introduction of loopamid. This innovative polyamide 6 (PA6 or nylon 6) is derived from textile waste, offering a circular solution for nylon apparel. Zara, under Inditex, has launched a loopamid jacket, embodying the textile-to-textile recycling technology.

The loopamid jacket is designed with a “design for recycling” approach, featuring components such as fabrics, buttons, filling, hook and loop, and zipper, all crafted from this recycled material. Notably, loopamid has the capability to withstand various fabric mixtures, including PA6 and elastane, enabling the recycling of both post-industrial and post-consumer textile waste while maintaining identical material characteristics to traditional virgin polyamide over multiple cycles.

Ramkumar Dhruva, President of BASF’s Monomers division, envisions a transformation in the PA6 market, emphasizing ongoing efforts to scale up the technology for commercial quantities. The collaboration with Inditex underscores the practicality of circularity, propelling sustainability in the textile industry.