Global athleticwear brand Lululemon has launched a new jacket made from enzymatically recycled polyester in partnership with Australian enviro-tech startup Samsara Eco.
It is the second product launched to-market since commencing the partnership in 2023. Earlier this year the companies unveiled the world’s first enzymatically recycled nylon 6,6 ‘Swiftly’ long-sleeve top samples.
The new Lululemon Packable Anorak jacket is made from a variety of inputs, including mixed plastic waste, Lululemon apparel at the end-of-life stage and converted carbon emissions.
The jacket is now being sold online in Australia, the United States and Canada.
According to Samsara Eco, its recycling technology uses a combination of biophysics, chemistry, biology and computer science - including AI - to create plastic-eating enzymes. The enzymes break down waste into raw materials, which are then integrated into existing manufacturing processes to make new products — such as the new Lululemon jacket.
“Our vision is to scale these technologies to address textile waste across our entire supply chain,” Lululemon VP of raw materials innovation Yogendra Dandapure said.
“This capsule product is a first step along this journey, helping us test and learn as we continue to advance circularity, which signals exciting possibilities for all industries looking to shift to more circular models.”
Samsara Eco CEO and founder Paul Riley said Australia cannot solve the climate crisis until it solves the plastics crisis and puts an end to fashion waste.
“Over 90 per cent of fashion waste is currently a one-way ticket to incineration or landfill," Riley said. “Our latest work with Lululemon shows the potential to give clothes an infinite life and prevent textiles from ending up in landfills.”
According to Samsara, its recycling process handles a variety of blended fabric and mixed bale feedstocks including poly/cotton and nylon/elastane blends, carpet fibres, zip ties and airbags.
Riley said Samsara has optimised enzymes to efficiently recycle PET, polyester and nylon 6,6 at scale, but added there are other plastics that need to be recycled - including soft plastics and mixed plastics.