Fishing net to recycled nylon producer Sao Textile prepares to scale
French recycling tech start-up Sao Textile is developing a solution for turning discarded fishing nets into recycled polyamide yarns. She intends to achieve this by building a fully French industrial hub benefitting from the country’s low carbon energy. “Last year we achieved industrial proof of concept for our thermomechanical recycling process,” she told Sportstextiles.
The young entrepreneur is targeting applications in sportswear, luxury and defence. At the company’s booth at Texworld, a tee-shirt, a knitted upper for sneakers and a compression knit were on display, showcasing a few of the fabrics finalised by the company.
By the end of 2026, Ms Olacia expects to have certified and validated the process. Sao Textile covers the process starting from fishing net collection to recycled nylon pellets. The nets are cut and densified to be made into pellets that can be extruded and texturised into a fully 100% recycled nylon yarn.
Ms Olacia also expects the winter Olympics in France in 2030 to generate demand for her recycled nylon.
