Reduce carbon emissions by 90% ITOCHU Corporation and Aquafil collaborate on nylon recycling business

ITOCHU Corporation and Aquafil, creators of the brand ECONYL® regenerated nylon and pioneer of the circular economy, announced that they have entered into a non-exclusive business alliance agreement to promote and expand the nylon recycling business
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Nobuyuki Tabata, Chief Operating Officer of the Chemical Division, Representative of ITOCHU Corporation, said: "The business alliance with Aquafil enables us to focus on the nylon recycling business and strengthens our contribution to the SDGs in the mid-term management plan 'Brand New Deal 2023'
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Since last year Since the announcement of the strategic partnership, ITOCHU Corporation has been promoting the collection of waste nylon, the sales of ECONYL® brand products, and the development of new applications
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ITOCHU's network has brought progress in various fields
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To further deepen and accelerate cooperation, ITOCHU decided to Invest in a stake in Aquafil
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Giulio Bonazzi, Chairman and CEO of Aquafil, said: "The commercial alliance with ITOCHU Corporation is another key step in our long journey, providing us with the opportunity and value to further develop through the collection of nylon waste and the marketing of ECONYL® branded products.
Grow the ECONYL® business
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We are particularly proud of the progress we have made with ITOCHU to date, and we are sure that the collaboration between our companies will provide the market with more sustainable solutions
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In 2011, Aquafil created the ECONYL® recycled materials portfolio to convert recycled nylon waste such as fishing nets, carpets and post-industrial waste back into caprolactam (CPL), a crude raw material
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Through its proprietary depolymerization recycling technology, Aquafil completely eliminates impurities, enabling recycled nylon products to have the same characteristics as virgin quality materials
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ECONYL® nylon is made entirely from nylon waste and can reduce CO2 emissions by 90% compared to conventional nylon made from crude oil
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Products under the ECONYL® brand are focused on the fashion and carpet industries and have been adopted as environmentally sustainable materials by more than 2,000 brands worldwide
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The success and recognition of ECONYL® will be enhanced by the synergies of ITOCHU's global network, further promoting the collection of nylon waste worldwide, as well as the sales and development of ECONYL® branded materials in traditional and new businesses
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In addition, driven by the circular strategy of both parties, more innovative solutions based on eco-design projects will be developed and implemented
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ITOCHU Corporation has determined that contribution and enhancement measures to the SDGs are the basic policies of its mid-term management plan 'Brand New Deal 2023'
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By further expanding the nylon recycling business, ITOCHU Corporation and Aquafil will contribute to the promotion of a sustainable recycling-oriented society
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