Lululemon agrees to purchase up to 20% of its fiber supplies from recycled resources.
Lululemon and Samsara Eco Partner for Sustainable Textile Recycling
Lululemon, the popular athletic apparel company, has entered a 10-year agreement with Samsara Eco, a biotechnology firm specialising in enzymatic recycling of synthetic fibers. This partnership aims to supply Lululemon with recycled nylon 6,6 and polyester, accounting for approximately 20% of Lululemon's total fibre portfolio.
The collaboration focuses on using Samsara Eco's proprietary enzymatic technology to break down synthetic fibers like nylon 6,6 and polyester back into their original monomers. These monomers can then be re-polymerized into high-quality fibers indistinguishable from virgin inputs, resulting in virgin-grade recycled fibres that perform equivalently to virgin materials in clothing.
Samsara Eco uses AI-designed enzymes to "eat" synthetic polymers, effectively recycling them into monomers. This process was demonstrated with Lululemon by producing garments such as the world’s first enzymatically recycled nylon 6,6 clothing and a limited-edition jacket made from recycled polyester.
The first commercial-scale recycling facility near Jerrabomberra, Australia, is set to open later in 2025. This facility aims to recycle large volumes of plastic bottles and clothing annually, aligning with Lululemon’s goal of using 100% preferred materials by 2030.
Ted Dagnese, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Lululemon, stated that they are taking a diversified approach to achieve their 2030 impact goals. The partnership with Samsara Eco is part of Lululemon’s efforts to help turn their vision of a circular model into a reality.
In February 2024, the companies announced the production of the first-ever product to be created using a circular solution for a difficult-to-recycle material. Later in 2024, they launched a new jacket, the first ever product to be produced using enzymatically recycled polyester.
Paul Riley, Founder and CEO of Samsara Eco, expressed optimism about the expanded partnership with Lululemon and its potential to drive circular apparel over the next decade. Lululemon and Samsara Eco have a pre-existing partnership, with Lululemon being Samsara Eco's first textile partner.
This agreement supports Lululemon’s sustainable materials goals, which include sourcing 75% "preferred materials" by 2025 and 100% by 2030. By reducing its reliance on fossil-fuel derived resources and adopting circular textile recycling based on advanced enzymatic methods, Lululemon positions itself as a frontrunner in the industry.
[1] "Lululemon and Samsara Eco Partner for Sustainable Textile Recycling." (2024). Retrieved from [link] [2] "Lululemon and Samsara Eco Announce Partnership for Enzymatic Recycling." (2023). Retrieved from [link] [3] "Lululemon and Samsara Eco Launch Enzymatically Recycled Jacket." (2024). Retrieved from [link] [4] "Samsara Eco's Enzymatic Recycling Technology: A Game Changer for Textile Industry." (2023). Retrieved from [link] [5] "Lululemon's Sustainability Goals: A Closer Look." (2023). Retrieved from [link]
- The alliance between Lululemon and Samsara Eco in the realm of environmental science focuses on the development of sustainable textile recycling, specifically using renewable energy sources and advanced technology to recycle synthetic fibers like nylon 6,6 and polyester.
- This collaboration aims to contribute to the climate-change battle by reducing the apparel industry's reliance on fossil-fuel derived resources, aligning with Lululemon's goal of sourcing 100% preferred materials (as defined in their lifestyle and home-and-garden sustainability vision) by 2030.
- Financially, the strategic partnership between Lululemon and Samsara Eco signifies an investment in the future of sustainable living and the advancement of the technology sector, with the potential to drive circular apparel and the renewable-energy-powered textile industry over the coming decade.
- The partnership has already demonstrated success, as seen in the production of the world’s first enzymatically recycled nylon 6,6 clothing and a limited-edition jacket made from recycled polyester.
- The joint venture between Lululemon and Samsara Eco goes beyond recycling textiles, bringing change to the industry and setting a new standard for sustainable living and environmental-science practices.
