lululemon Announces New Collaboration with ZymoChem to Advance and Scale Bio-Based Nylon

lululemon has announced a multi-year collaboration with San Leandro, CA based biotechnology pioneer ZymoChem to help expand the company’s use of bio-based nylon and advance its leadership in sustainable innovation. Together, lululemon and ZymoChem will sustainably transform a key building block of nylon 6,6 – a foundational material used in many of lululemon’s iconic products including its Align and Wunder Train leggings.

lululemon’s work with ZymoChem began last year with an initial investment to support innovative technologies used to create a bio-based version of adipic acid – one of the key chemical building blocks of nylon 6,6 traditionally produced from petroleum. The next phase of this partnership will focus on scaling ZymoChem’s technologies to support the commercialization of this bio-based alternative.

“What truly sets ZymoChem apart is their groundbreaking technology, which is capable of producing a bio-based material to create sustainable nylon 6,6 that provides the same look, feel, and quality expected from our high-performance products,” said Yogendra Dandapure, Vice President, Raw Materials Innovation at lululemon. “By continuing to expand our partnerships with forward-thinking leaders like ZymoChem, we’re creating multiple pathways to transition to sustainable materials across our product portfolio.”

This collaboration builds on lululemon’s partnerships with other sustainable materials leaders, including Geno, to expand lower-impact bio-based nylon alternatives. Additionally, last year, lululemon and Australian enviro-tech startup Samsara Eco unveiled the world’s first enzymatically recycled nylon 6,6 product, proving textile-to-textile recycling is possible for this high quality, complex fiber. This moment not only unlocked an industry milestone but also reinforced the power of collaboration in creating transformative change.

lululemon’s partnership with ZymoChem marks another important step in the company’s journey to develop more products with preferred materials and end-of-use solutions. By combining expertise in bio-based technologies and raw materials, ZymoChem and lululemon will help pave the way for more sustainable high-performance apparel.

“We spent years refining our patented Carbon Conserving process with a vision to develop a sustainable version of nylon,” said Harshal Chokhawala, Co-Founder & CEO of ZymoChem. “We are thrilled to have deepened our engagement with lululemon, setting the stage for our technologies to deliver bio-based and decarbonized nylon on a global scale.”

By continuing to broaden its portfolio of partners, lululemon is advancing renewable and recycled innovation across a range of materials – from bio-based nylon 6 and 6,6, to textile-to-textile recycling for polyester and nylon. lululemon is committed to finding next-generation solutions that push the boundaries of performance and material science, leading the way for the future of sustainable textiles.

To learn more about lululemon’s material innovation and sustainability commitments, visit corporate.lululemon.com/our-impact