Lululemon has launched its first products made from renewably sourced, plant-based nylon. As part of a long-term partnership with sustainable materials leader Geno, the new material behind the high-performance shirts delivers the same feel as always.
Esther Speck, Senior Vice President, Global Sustainable Business and Impact, lululemon, said “We’ve been working on plant-based nylon with our partner Geno for almost two years, testing ways to integrate this groundbreaking material with our product philosophy of creating products to help our guests feel their best. The launch of our first plant-based nylon products is an example of lululemon’s environmental commitments in action, and what’s to come on our journey toward net zero.”
Lululemon announced its first-ever equity investment in sustainable materials company, Geno, in 2021. In partnership, lululemon and Geno have re-envisioned the decades-old method of nylon production by replacing petroleum from the fabric’s origin with plants, creating a lower-impact alternative to an important material in the performance apparel industry.
Sustainable innovation will play a key role in the future of retail and apparel, and this new fabric innovation demonstrates lululemon’s commitment to creating a healthier environment through advancements in product development.
“Today marks a major achievement: biotechnology has successfully fermented plant sugars into the chemical building blocks used to make nylon, bringing to life a renewable, plant-based nylon. Together with lululemon, Geno is opening a new chapter for plant-based nylon and accelerating the sustainable materials transition. We’re proud that this partnership is disrupting the $22 billion dollar nylon market, and with lululemon, we will be accelerating the sustainable materials transition at scale – and this is only the beginning,” said Christophe Schilling, CEO and Founder, Geno.
