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), Cantik Swimwear, Rapanui and Panarea Couture swimwear.[1][2][4][5][6]
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.[7] 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[edit]
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ a b c d e Thomas, Dana (2019). Fashionopolis. New York: Penguin Random House (Penguin Press). pp. 200–2. ISBN 9780735224018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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. 9 (2). Trans Stellar: 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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ Taylor, Meggen (May 26, 2021). "Three Sustainable One-Piece Swimsuits That Seamlessly Go From The Beach To The Streets". Forbes.
- ^ "The Process". Econyl. 2018-03-12. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
Further reading[edit]
- Sylvia Klimaki (January 2020). "Industries Adapt to Address the Climate and Ecological Crisis". The Hourglass (4): 1.
External links[edit]
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