Nylon (PA) was one of the earliest synthetic fibers ever introduced into global textile production, serving as one of the primary raw materials within polyamide fiber production.

Advantages of Nylon Fabric

Nylon is a synthetic fiber, therefore it has good mechanical strength and toughness. Its stretching and compression angles are even higher than metals. These characteristics determine that nylon fabric has high practicality and a wide range of application scenarios. Due to these characteristics, nylon is often used to produce waterproof clothing, assault suits, and some clothing accessories.

Nylon originates from non renewable petroleum resources and is manufactured in an energy intensive manner, requiring a large amount of water to cool the fibers. Its carbon footprint is high, and microplastic fibers will fall off during the washing process, ultimately being mostly buried, and it is usually non biodegradable at the end of its lifecycle.

According to data from the Sustainable Textile Promotion Association, global polyamide production accounted for 5% of the total fiber market in 2020, at 5.4 million tons. Among them, Maia Research’s “2021 Recycled Polyamide Fiber Market Report” states that currently only 1.9% of polyamides are recycled.

At present, new materials such as biokinilon and renewable nylon are gradually becoming alternatives to conventional nylon, effectively reducing carbon footprint.

Recycling and regeneration of nylon

Compared with native fibers, regenerated nylon can be recycled repeatedly, saves oil, and has lower water and energy consumption required for manufacturing. Pre consumer factory waste, carpets, post consumer textiles, fishing nets, lifebuoys, and marine plastics can all be used as material sources to reduce pollution to land and water.

Biological Gini Dragon

The rise of bio based alternatives in the market has reduced the application of petroleum based conventional nylon. According to data from Maia Research, biobased polyamide yarns only account for a small portion of the polyamide market, about 0.4%.

The unique feature of the biological Gini dragon is that it uses castor seeds, corn, cassava, wheat, or sugar raw materials instead of oil to produce yarn with lower carbon dioxide emissions.

Biodegradable Nylon

After the biodegradability of nylon is improved, its lifespan will be greatly shortened, thereby reducing landfill pollution related to supply chain waste.

The unique feature of biodegradable polyamide is that it can accelerate the decomposition rate of clothing in anaerobic landfills, reducing it from hundreds of years to just a few years.

Italian brand Colmar Originals has partnered with Amni Soul Eco yarn to launch a capsule collection consisting of six biodegradable garments, including three women’s and three men’s garments with biodegradable decorations.

As more eco-friendly biobased and biodegradable special fibers enter the market, carbon emissions have decreased up to 50 per cent and pollution from microplastic pollution has been mitigated significantly. Recycled nylon yarn can help combat both of these environmental concerns while protecting ocean ecosystems.