Australian company Samsara Eco has announced plans to collaborate with Israeli polyamide manufacturer Nilit to explore building a recycled nylon 6.6 polymer production site in South East Asia. The initiative aims to tackle the challenging issue of recycling nylon 6.6, a widely used but difficult fiber in the apparel and fashion industries.

Samsara Eco’s patented enzymatic recycling technology, EosEco, is central to this effort. The process breaks down plastics into their core molecules, allowing them to be reformed into brand-new materials. EosEco is designed to handle various inputs, including colored and blended textiles like nylon 6.6 mixed with spandex.

The proposed recycling plant, expected to be operational by late 2026, will be the first of its kind to recycle textile waste into high-quality recycled nylon 6.6 polymers. These polymers can be seamlessly reintroduced into existing supply chains for use in new fabrics, offering a circular solution for textile brands and manufacturers.

“Our vision is to deliver climate repair through infinite recycling,” says Paul Riley, CEO and founder of Samsara Eco. “By partnering with Nilit, we can create a circular pathway for nylon 6.6 and give discarded textiles a new life.”

Ilan Melamed, General Manager at Nilit, highlights the environmental impact: “This partnership is critical in providing the market with premium nylon 6.6 products that reduce carbon emissions and address the 92 million tons of textile waste added to landfills each year.”