Plant-based nylon 6 breakthrough
Biobased materials developer Genomatica has worked with nylon manufacturer Aquafil to complete what the partner companies have called the first demonstration-scale production runs for plant-based nylon 6. They have begun what they call pre-commercial production of plant-based nylon intermediate caprolactam at a new demonstration plant located at an existing Aquafil site in Slovenia.
Aquafil and Geno have said they believe this development can lead to a reshaping of the $22 billion nylon industry and enable brands to meet consumer demand for “sustainable everyday materials”.
They have produced several tonnes of caprolactam, a plant-based building block for nylon 6, and have converted it to nylon 6 polymer. They are now in the process of evaluating the polymer for use in applications including yarns for textiles.
This material will go to global brands and their manufacturing partners who will create showcase goods and test feedback with customers.
“Global brands are taking action to incorporate sustainable materials into their products,” said Christophe Schilling, Geno’s chief executive. “We’re working to build purposeful, traceable and transparent supply chains, in this case for nylon-6.”
His counterpart at Aquafil, Giulio Bonazzi, added: “The world needs to put into action every possible approach to make supply chains sustainable. Making bio-based nylon is an essential piece of that.”
