Global trims manufacturer, YKK, announces the launch of a new collection of NATULON® recycled zippers made with Econyl® regenerated nylon.

Econyl nylon, manufactured by Aquafil S.p.A., which is supplied in partnership with ITOCHU Corp., is made entirely of nylon waste collected all over the world, such as industrial plastic, fabric scraps, old carpets, and aquaculture fishing nets. The material can be recycled indefinitely without losing its quality.

YKK will offer Econyl regenerated nylon products in three categories to the European market: VISLON® NATULON plastic injected zipper fully made with Econyl; EXCELLA® NATULON recycled zipper made with Econyl, a top-of-the-range brushed metal zipper; and Recycled sew-on button made with Econyl, a simple button to sew on nylon garments.

Hitoshi Yamaguchi, president of YKK Italy, said that YKK views circular fashion as a regenerative system in which clothing is circulated for as long as their maximum value is kept before being securely returned to the biosphere. As a minor element of the supply chain, they believe that circularity is critical to long-term sustainability. This is what drives them to provide the highest-quality recycled and recyclable fastener products possible. Not only do they want to reduce the amount of raw materials used and enhance recycled content, but they also want to better understand the end of life of the garments and ensure that their suggestions are compatible with their eventual recycling. Simply put, their goods are created with the principles of resource efficiency, non-toxicity, biodegradability, and recyclability in mind. They're also made with recyclable materials and ethical methods in mind.

YKK has increased the number of zipper tapes created from PET bottles, old fibers, and other polyester remnants in its NATULON® recycled zippers range. It just released NATULON Plus™, which features a chain and slider made entirely of recycled polyester. Furthermore, the company's revolutionary AcroPlating® technology dramatically decreases metal plating's environmental impact.

The new collection of recycled zippers made with Econyl regenerated nylon is part of the YKK Spring/Summer 2023 Collection and is available in Lineapelle in Milan and digitally through the dedicated microsite.