Lululemon is launching a T-shirt made from plant-based nylon, part of the activewear company’s commitment to make its business entirely sustainable by 2030.
The company on Tuesday announced renewable products for men and women made in partnership with sustainable materials firm Genometica. Together, the companies use biotechnology and fermentation to convert plant-based materials into the building blocks that make nylon.
Nylon is usually produced using petroleum from coal, natural gas or crude oil, fossil fuels that worsen global warming. Lululemon’s new shirt will instead be produced with bio-based microorganisms.
Lululemon’s first two plant-based nylon products include the “Nylon Metal Vent” shirt for men and the “Swiftly Tech Short Sleeve” shirt for women, which will be available for purchase later this month.
Lululemon
The shirts retail for $78 for men and $68 for women, matching the retail prices of conventionally available items. The short-sleeve shirts are made of 50% organically produced nylon, 40% recycled polyester and 3% elastane. The elastane material is made with 30% plant-based materials.
Lululemon
Lululemon first partnered with Geno in 2021 with an equity investment in the company.
“Today marks a major achievement: biotechnology has successfully fermented plant sugars into the chemical building blocks used to make nylon, bringing a renewable, plant-based nylon to life,” Xeno founder Christoph Schilling said in a statement.
Clothing industry is one of them Most polluted in the world, accounts for approximately 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions – more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined, according to a 2019 World Bank report. By another measure, the sector produced 2 billion metric tons of greenhouse gases in 2018—about 4% of the global total, according to McKinsey & Co.
As a result, several apparel companies are moving to make their production processes more environmentally friendly. Lululemon’s other efforts to improve the sustainability of its business include last year’s launch of its “Like New” resale program, which allows customers to buy and sell used Lululemon clothing at a discount.
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