Canberra, April 4: Australian enviro-tech startup Samsara Eco, in partnership with athletic apparel, accessories, and footwear giant lululemon, unveiled today their pioneering product made from enzymatically recycled polyester: the lululemon limited edition Packable Anorak jacket.
Crafted from a mix of materials including assorted plastic waste, end-of-life stage lululemon garments, and transformed carbon emissions, this innovative jacket is now available for purchase online across Australia, the US, and Canada.
Polyester reigns as the most prevalent fibre globally, commanding about 80 per cent of the synthetic fibre market which translates to over 63 million tonnes produced annually. Its attributes—lightness, durability, versatility, and resistance to fading, wrinkling, and stains—make it a preferred choice for clothing.
However, a significant portion of disposed polyester products unfortunately ends up in landfills, incinerated, or polluting the environment.
The recycling technology behind this initiative, EosEco™, is currently under Samsara Eco’s patent application.
It employs an interdisciplinary approach combining biophysics, chemistry, biology, and computer science, inclusive of AI, to develop enzymes capable of decomposing waste into basic materials.
These materials can then be reintegrated into the production cycle to manufacture new items, exemplified by the lululemon Packable Anorak jacket.
Paul Riley, CEO and Founder of Samsara Eco, emphasized the interconnectedness of the plastics and climate crises, stating that addressing fashion waste is imperative since over 90 per cent of it is doomed for incineration or landfill.
He highlighted that their collaboration with lululemon could pave the way for clothing to have an endless lifecycle, preventing textile waste.
Samsara Eco’s recycling technology is versatile, capable of processing mixed fabrics and various other materials such as poly/cotton blends, nylon/elastane, carpet fibers, zip ties, and airbags.
Riley underscored their commitment to a sustainable recycling process with a minimal carbon footprint, emphasizing the adaptation of enzymes for the efficient recycling of PET, polyester, and nylon 6,6 on a large scale.
He pointed out the necessity for recycling other types of plastics, including soft and mixed plastics, and the potential applicability of their process across diverse sectors like fashion, automotive, and electronics.
The partnership between Samsara Eco and lululemon, established in 2023, previously introduced the world’s first enzymatically recycled nylon 6,6 Swiftly long-sleeve top samples.
The Packable Anorak jacket marks another significant step in advancing textile-to-textile recycling and promoting a circular economy.
Sarah Cook, Samsara Eco’s Chief Commercial & Operations Officer, celebrated their collective effort with lululemon to disrupt the conventional linear disposal pathway of plastics.
She highlighted that products derived from enzymatically recycled materials meet the same quality standards as those made from virgin fibers, fostering a vision for an apparel industry less dependent on new fibers.
Yogendra Dandapure, Vice President of Raw Materials Innovation at lululemon, shared the ambition to expand these technologies across their supply chain.
He views the capsule product as an initial phase in their journey towards circularity, heralding promising prospects for all sectors aiming for a shift towards more sustainable models.
This collaborative achievement with Samsara Eco signifies lululemon’s stride towards fulfilling its ambition to produce 100 per cent of its products from preferred materials and offer end-of-life solutions by 2030.
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