Lululemon Expands Bio-Based Nylon Partnership With ZymoChem

Lululemon, one of the leading global athletic wear brands, is bolstering its focus on sustainability through a bigger deal with biotech firm ZymoChem. The joint venture is about taking bio-based nylon 6,6 commercial, a fundamental component in numerous Lululemon signature offerings like the Align and Wunder Train leggings. By increasing its investment in ZymoChem, Lululemon is furthering efforts to move off of petroleum-derived materials and become more sustainable-oriented.

This alliance is another key achievement in Lululemon's continuous push towards innovation leadership within the textile sector. ZymoChem's Carbon Conserving, patented process enables the manufacturing of bio-based adipic acid, an important ingredient in nylon 6,6. Historically, the ingredient has been produced from fossil fuel sources, which lead to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution. By leveraging ZymoChem’s technology, Lululemon is moving closer to a future where its high-performance fabrics maintain their quality and durability while significantly reducing their carbon footprint.

Yogendra Dandapure, Lululemon's Vice President of Raw Materials Innovation, underscored the significance of this partnership within the company's overall sustainability initiative. He pointed out that ZymoChem's innovative method of bio-based nylon has the same performance, look, and feel as traditional nylon, ensuring that consumers do not have to sacrifice quality while supporting environmentally friendly innovations.

ZymoChem, a biotechnology company committed to sustainable materials, has taken years to perfect its Carbon Conserving technology to create a substitute for petroleum-based nylon. Harshal Chokhawala, ZymoChem Co-Founder and CEO, spoke of excitement at the next stage of the partnership, which includes scaling the technology for commercialization on a global level. He pointed out that by collaborating heavily with Lululemon, the company is positioning itself to drive broad usage of bio-based and decarbonized nylon, a move with the potential to revolutionize the textile sector.

The action fits within Lululemon's larger web of sustainable material collaborations. The company has also been actively partnering with other innovation leaders in the industry, such as Geno and Samsara Eco, to drive toward bio-based and circular materials faster. Through its partnership with Geno, Lululemon is innovating bio-based replacements for nylon 6, while its efforts with Samsara Eco already resulted in the world's first enzymatically recycled nylon 6,6. This breakthrough, revealed in 2023, demonstrated that high-quality, complicated fibers can indeed be recycled text-to-textile.

Lululemon's sustainability approach is not only about discrete innovations but about creating a strong network of like-minded partners who are committed to a circular, low-impact future. Through these relationships, the company is establishing multiple avenues to incorporate sustainable materials throughout its entire product line. Dandapure stressed that these efforts are essential to realizing Lululemon's long-term vision of creating fully circular, high-performance apparel that serves both athletes and the planet.

The growth of the ZymoChem partnership is a reflection of Lululemon's commitment to driving the industry toward a more sustainable future. As consumer demand for sustainable products continues to increase, Lululemon is leading the charge, proving that sustainability and high performance can coexist. Through innovation, collaboration, and strategic investment, the company is leading the way toward a new era in athletic wear—one that balances quality and planetary health.