Engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a new recyclable yarn that offers stretch and strength similar to spandex, providing a more sustainable alternative for producing lightweight and stretchable textiles.

The new yarn is made entirely from polyethylene, a plastic commonly used in everyday products such as milk bottles, grocery bags, and packaging. It is designed to be woven into fabrics for comfortable, flexible clothing while also supporting easier recycling at the end of the product’s life.

Unlike spandex, the polyethylene yarn is fully recyclable because it is made from a thermoplastic material that can be melted and reshaped into new products. Garments made from this yarn can be collected after use, melted down, and turned into new yarn or molded into accessories such as buttons. During testing, researchers recycled and respun the yarn ten times without reducing its strength.