Have you heard of enzymes?
Imagine a tiny, super-efficient machine that speeds up chemical reactions in organisms, like in the human body, for example. These machines are proteins found in all living organisms, and they help do a lot of things, like digest our food or produce energy.
At Écollant, we are always ready to take on technological and environmental challenges that would help evolve the textile industry by replacing certain traditional processes that harm the environment with greener processes.
That’s why, for several years, we have been exploring how these little enzyme wonders can help us solve a major puzzle: extracting nylon from the mixed fibers found in our end-of-life clothing to create a nylon that has the same quality as virgin material, produced by traditional petrochemical processes.
Elastane and nylon, for example, are two materials used as filaments interwoven together at a very small scale to make tights. This is what makes their separation and recycling impossible with traditional technologies.
But, once separated, if we could develop an enzyme capable of breaking down the nylon, it would be a revolution! We could recycle all mixed textiles, including tights, much more easily and in a more eco-friendly way. 🌍♻️
Our team of researchers is developing and testing this solution in the lab. To put it very simply, the process is like looking for the perfect key to open a very special lock.
This approach is at the heart of our innovation. By exploring the power of enzymes, we are working to develop breakthrough recycling methods that are even more effective than those available today. Moreover, these are technologies with a measured environmental impact that aim for a more virtuous textile production, which has been previously labeled as the second most polluting and CO2-emitting industry in the world.
Stay tuned to discover our next advancements! 🌱🔬
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