Syntetica raises $30m for novel nylon recycling process

Paris-based technology firm Syntetica has secured a $30 million Series A funding round, led by Bpifrance’s Ecotechnologies fund. Investors in the round include fashion brand Lululemon, apparel manufacturer MAS Holdings, and Indorama Ventures. Syntetica has developed a patented process capable of recycling different forms of nylon within a single stream, eliminating the need for separation.

Less than 1% of global recyclable clothing is reportedly re-made into textiles, partly due to challenges in recycling nylon waste. Syntetica’s method aims to significantly simplify and improve this recycling rate.

"For decades, mixed nylon waste has been considered too complex and too expensive to recycle at scale," said Marco Bertone, cofounder and CEO of Syntetica. "We have shown that it is possible to recover high-value materials from the waste streams the industry has historically written off."

The company is currently working with brands such as Victoria’s Secret and Etam. The newly raised capital will be used to build a commercial demonstration facility in France, in partnership with Michelin.