BASF and Inditex make a breakthrough in textile-to-textile recycling with loopamid®

M A Mohiemen Tanim January 28, 2024Last Updated: January 28, 2024

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Figure: BASF and Inditex make a breakthrough in textile-to-textile recycling with loopamid, the first circular nylon 6 entirely based on textile waste

BASF and Inditex have announced a breakthrough in textile-to-textile recycling with the launch of loopamid®, a polyamide 6 (PA6) made entirely from textile waste. Zara has launched a jacket made only from loopamid®, following a “design for recycling” approach that incorporates the material into all the different elements of the product.

Loopamid® is made using a new technology that breaks down textile waste into its constituent monomers. These monomers are then repolymerized to create new PA6 fibers and materials. The process can recycle all types of PA6 textiles, including blends with elastane.

The launch of Loopamid® is a significant step forward for the fashion industry, which is under increasing pressure to reduce its environmental impact. The textile industry is a major contributor to pollution and waste, with around 92 million tons of textiles being discarded each year.

“Driving innovation is key to advancing towards a more responsible industry. This collaboration is a great example of how, by collaborating all together, we can use the new technology to transform textile waste into a new resource. This project is also a first step to move towards a circular solution, as the industry still needs to boost new collecting and recycling capacities to close the loop and scale recycling for post-consumer waste.”
Javier Losada, Inditex’s Chief Sustainability Officer

BASF is working to scale up production of loopamid® to meet the growing demand for recycled materials in the fashion industry. The company is also working with other brands and retailers to develop new products made from loopamid®.

Loopamid® is a promising new technology that has the potential to revolutionize the textile industry. By making it possible to recycle all types of PA6 textiles, loopamid could help to reduce the environmental impact of the fashion industry and create a more circular economy.