Athletic apparel company lululemon has entered into a multi-year collaboration agreement with California-based biotechnology firm ZymoChem aimed at expanding the use of sustainable bio-based nylon in its products.

Founded in 2013, ZymoChem uses microbes to convert renewable feedstocks into biodegradable polymers with a near-zero CO2 emissions footprint. According to the company, the process also produces materials with a cost advantage over petroleum-based nylon products. lululemon began working with ZymoChem in 2024 to develop a more sustainable key chemical building block of nylon 6,6, a material widely used in lululemon products and in the global clothing industry. The company raised $21 million in a Series A funding round last year, which included an investment by lululemon.

The next phase of this partnership will focus on scaling ZymoChem’s technologies to support the commercialization of this bio-based alternative, lululemon said.

Yogendra Dandapure, Vice President, Raw Materials Innovation at lululemon, said:

“What truly sets ZymoChem apart is their groundbreaking technology, which is capable of producing a bio-based material to create sustainable nylon 6,6 that provides the same look, feel, and quality expected from our high-performance products. By continuing to expand our partnerships with forward-thinking leaders like ZymoChem, we’re creating multiple pathways to transition to sustainable materials across our product portfolio.”

According to lululemon’s most recent impact report, nylon is the company’s second largest procured material by weight, representing 31% of materials used in its products. lululemon has set targets to launch alternative nylon solutions by 2025, and to source 100% renewable or recycled content nylon for its products by 2030.

Since 2023, lululemon has introduced products using enzymatically recycled nylon, enzymatically recycled polyester, and renewably sourced, plant-based nylon. lululemon said that its partnership with ZymoChem marks another important step in the company’s journey to develop more sustainable materials for its products. By combining expertise in bio-based technologies and raw materials, the companies will help pave the way for more sustainable high-performance apparel, lululemon said.

Harshal Chokhawala, Co-Founder & CEO of ZymoChem, said:

“We spent years refining our patented Carbon Conserving process with a vision to develop a sustainable version of nylon. We are thrilled to have deepened our engagement with lululemon, setting the stage for our technologies to deliver bio-based and decarbonized nylon on a global scale.”