Nylon- a polyamide fibre with remarkable elasticity, durability and abrasion resistance that is used in every aspect of our day-to-day life starting from activewear to conveyor belts. However, it has detrimental effects on health and environment. When washed, nylon releases microplastics. These microplastics reach the ocean, cause shoreline pollution and end up killing marine life. Manufacturing of nylon produces nitrous oxide—a greenhouse gas 300 times worse than carbon dioxide. Also, large amounts of water are used for cooling the fibres in a world where there is scarcity of drinking water. Econyl by Aquafil seeks to offer the properties of nylon while reducing its environmental impact.
What is Econyl?
Econyl fabric is made from recycled nylon. Pre and post-consumer nylon wastes such old carpets, fishing nets, plasticwares etc. are converted into high quality econyl fabric. Econyl is structurally identical to Nylon 6. It is stretchable, form-fitting and durable. It is mainly used in sportswear, swimwear and casualwear like stockings, leggings and tights. Besides apparel, it is used to manufacture carpets, ropes, lines and industrial products that are otherwise made with nylon.
Manufacturing process
Capturing nylon waste: Nylon wastes are collected and depolymerized into polyamide solution.
Extrusion: The solution is extruded through spinnerets.
Spinning: After extrusion, the filaments are drawn and loaded on to bobbins. It is spun into yarn.
Dyeing and further processing: The yarn is dyed according to desired colour and further processed to knit into garments.
The Upside
Manufacture of Econyl uses non-biodegradable waste as raw material that would have been lying around polluting the environment further. When the wastes are recycled into regenerated econyl, they do not end up in landfills or oceans and do not release microplastics in the eco-system. New nylon or polyamide production involves hexamethylenediamine derived from fossil fuels. On one hand, fossil fuels are natural resources that need to be conserved and on the other, extraction of fossil fuels and hexamethylenediamine isolation introduces toxic substances into the environment. Econyl production prevents both issues.
The Downside
Although Econyl reduces the hazards and environmental aspects of nylon, it is non-biodegradable itself. Econyl still contributes to microfibre and microplastic pollution. It has to be used with minimum washing or inserting a filter in washing machine so that it does not release microplastics in waterbodies and soil. However, Econyl ensures circularity by giving nylon wastes a second life and preventing production of new nylon that would contribute to more wastage.
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