March 31, 2025 – Renowned athletic brand lululemon has announced a multi-year partnership with ZymoChem, a biotechnology company based in California, USA, aimed at expanding the use of bio-based nylon and solidifying its leadership in sustainable innovation. The collaboration will focus on the sustainable transformation of key raw materials for nylon 6,6, a material widely utilized in lululemon’s iconic products such as the Align and Wunder Train leggings.
Since 2024, lululemon has been investing in ZymoChem to support the development of innovative technologies for producing bio-based adipic acid, a critical chemical component of nylon 6,6 traditionally derived from petroleum. The next phase of their partnership will concentrate on scaling ZymoChem’s technology to drive the commercialization of this bio-based alternative.
According to insights from the Color Masterbatch Industry Network, Yogendra Dandapure, Vice President of Raw Material Innovation at lululemon, stated that ZymoChem’s breakthrough technology enables the production of a bio-based material that can be used to create sustainable nylon 6,6 while maintaining the same look and feel as lululemon’s high-performance products. By collaborating deeply with forward-thinking leaders like ZymoChem, lululemon is committed to exploring multiple avenues to achieve a comprehensive transition to sustainable materials across its product portfolio.
Previously, lululemon has established partnerships with sustainable material leaders such as Geno to promote low-impact bio-based nylon alternatives. Last year, lululemon also joined forces with Australian eco-tech startup Samsara Eco to launch the world’s first enzymatically recycled nylon 6,6 product, marking a significant industry milestone and highlighting the power of collaboration in driving change.
This partnership with ZymoChem represents a crucial step for lululemon in developing more products that utilize preferred materials and end-use solutions. By integrating expertise in bio-based technologies and raw materials, ZymoChem and lululemon will pave new paths for the sustainable development of high-performance apparel.
Harshal Chokhawala, Co-founder and CEO of ZymoChem, expressed confidence in the partnership’s prospects, noting that after years of refining patented technologies, ZymoChem has successfully developed sustainable nylon materials. This deepened collaboration with lululemon will lay a solid foundation for ZymoChem’s technology to promote bio-based and decarbonized nylon globally.
Looking ahead, lululemon intends to expand its partnership portfolio to drive renewable and recycling innovations across a range of materials, including bio-based nylon 6 and 6,6, polyester, and textile recycling of nylon. lululemon is dedicated to exploring next-generation solutions that push the boundaries of performance and material science, leading the future of sustainable textiles.