Textile-to-textile recycling: BASF and Inditex promote sustainable fashion with loopamid®

The textile industry is facing major changes in sustainability, led by BASF and Inditex through the launch of loopamid®, a new technology for textile-to-textile recycling. This initiative represents a significant step towards a Circular Economy by offering a sustainable solution for the reuse of polyamide 6 (PA6), also known as nylon 6, from textile waste.

At the heart of this initiative is loopamid®, which enables the conversion of polyamide 6 textiles into high-quality synthetic fibres and materials. The technology accepts a variety of fabric blends, including PA6 in combination with elastane, which facilitates the recycling of industrial textile waste and used clothing. The resulting fibres and materials retain their quality over several recycling cycles, comparable to that of conventional polyamide.

A practical example of the application of this technology is the jacket produced by Zara, which is made entirely from 100% loopamid. This product illustrates the fashion industry's commitment to the Circular Economy. Every element of the jacket, from the fabrics to the buttons and zips, is made from loopamid, following an ambitious "design for recycling" approach.

The development and market launch of loopamid was made possible by the collaboration between Inditex and various partners. Companies such as ModaRe, RadiciGroup, YKK, Velcro Companies, Uniter, Tessitura Vignetta, Freudenberg and Gütermann have helped to integrate loopamid into various components of the garments. These collaborations illustrate the common goal of effectively converting textile waste into new resources.

BASF aims to double its sales of Circular Economy solutions by 2030. Inditex plans to manufacture all its textile products from materials with a lower environmental footprint by 2030. These ambitions underline the ambition of both companies to promote a more sustainable textile industry and establish standards for environmentally conscious production.

The introduction of loopamid by BASF and Inditex marks a step forward in the quest for a more sustainable fashion industry. This initiative not only provides a solution for the recycling of textile waste, but also supports the development of new material cycles and business models aimed at reducing the industry's environmental impact.