Lululemon, a leading fashion brand, has collaborated with Genomatica – a leader in sustainable material manufacturing – to create a lower-impact, plant-based nylon.
The collaboration is also aimed at replacing conventional nylon which is the largest volume of synthetic material currently used to make Lululemon products.
The agreement represents Lululemon’s first equity investment in a sustainable materials company and Genomatica’s largest partnership within the retail industry.
It’s worth mentioning here that Genomatica uses biotechnology and fermentation to convert plant-based ingredients into widely used chemical building blocks, like those used to make nylon.
These building blocks are converted into pellets and yarns, and the two companies will be working closely with Lululemon’s fabric supply chain to incorporate this material into future products.
Through this collaboration, both the companies seek to create positive change within the US $ 22 billion global nylon market by building more sustainable supply chains.
Commenting on the partnership, Calvin McDonald, CEO, Lululemon, said, “Genomatica’s bio-based innovations, along with its distinctive track record of successful commercial applications, will help us deliver on our goals to make 100 per cent of our products with sustainable materials and end-of-use solutions by 2030, as we move towards a circular ecosystem.”
Christophe Schilling, CEO, Genomatica, added, “The combination of biotechnology, fermentation and renewable feedstock can provide a powerful means to disrupt the apparel industry through sustainable sourcing. This unique collaboration will help meet increasing consumer demand for more environment-friendly products and set an example for consumer brand owners worldwide.”
