Lululemon Expands Bio-Based Nylon Push with ZymoChem Partnership to Scale Sustainable Materials
- lululemon deepens biotech investment: Expands partnership with ZymoChem to scale bio-based nylon 6,6 for commercial use.
- Innovative materials leadership: Supports lululemon’s broader push into sustainable innovation through strategic collaborations.
- Global decarbonization impact: ZymoChem’s patented technology targets petroleum-free nylon, enabling next-gen performance textiles.
lululemon is pushing the frontiers of sustainable apparel with a new multi-year collaboration with biotechnology firm ZymoChem to scale a bio-based version of nylon 6,6 — a key material in many of lululemon’s flagship products like the Align and Wunder Train leggings.
“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.
The partnership builds on lululemon’s initial investment in ZymoChem last year to support the development of bio-based adipic acid — a core ingredient in nylon 6,6 traditionally derived from petroleum.
Now, the collaboration enters its next phase: scaling ZymoChem’s Carbon Conserving process for global commercialization.
“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.”
This move aligns with lululemon’s growing ecosystem of sustainable materials partners — including Geno and Samsara Eco — all aimed at reshaping the textile industry:
- With Geno, lululemon is advancing bio-based alternatives for nylon 6.
- With Samsara Eco, they created the world’s first enzymatically recycled nylon 6,6 in 2023 — a milestone proving textile-to-textile recycling is possible for this complex, high-quality fiber.
“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,” added Dandapure.
lululemon is building momentum toward fully circular, high-performance products — combining innovation, sustainability, and scale to drive the next era of apparel.
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