Recycled Nylon (ECONYL)
Also known as: ECONYL, regenerated nylon, recycled PA6
Chemically regenerated polyamide 6 by Aquafil made from fishing nets, carpet scraps and industrial waste — up to around 90 % less CO2 emissions than virgin nylon.
Description
ECONYL is a regenerated nylon 6 that Italian fibre producer Aquafil recovers in a closed loop from textile waste. Feedstock includes end-of-life fishing nets from the oceans ("ghost nets"), carpet cut-offs and production waste from the plastics industry. The waste is cleaned, sorted and broken down in a chemical depolymerisation process to the monomer caprolactam, which is then repolymerised into new polyamide 6.
For the textile sector ECONYL is spun into filament yarns and is one of the most important sustainable alternatives to virgin nylon in swimwear, sportswear, backpacks, bags and outdoor jackets. The closed loop can technically be repeated indefinitely without any loss of fibre quality.
- Up to about 90 % lower CO2 emissions than virgin polyamide 6 (Aquafil figure)
- Same mechanical properties as virgin nylon 6 — fully dyeable and suitable for sublimation
- Certified to Global Recycled Standard (GRS) and OEKO-TEX Standard 100
- Widely used in swimwear, leggings, softshell linings and recycled bags
Properties
| Fibre type | Regenerated polyamide 6 |
|---|---|
| Feedstock | Fishing nets, carpet scraps, industrial waste |
| CO2 reduction | Up to about 90 % versus virgin nylon |
| Certifications | GRS, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 |
Related product categories
Sources & references
3- Aquafil: ECONYL Regenerated Nylon aquafil.com https://www.aquafil.com/sustainability/econyl/
- Aquafil: ECONYL Produktseite aquafil.com https://www.aquafil.com/products/econyl/
- Wikipedia: Econyl Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Econyl
