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Lululemon Fights Climate Change With Plant-Based Nylon
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Lululemon Fights Climate Change With Plant-Based Nylon

Lululemon net zero
Lululemon assures that its new material delivers the same lightweight feel and quick-drying ability for which the athleisure brand is known

Lululemon is on a journey to net zero, aiming to make all its products with sustainable materials by 2030. 

The athleisure brand has taken a significant step toward that goal by releasing its first tees made from renewable, plant-based nylon, a notable milestone in Lululemon’s Be Planet goals in action.

Lululemon has been working with Geno, a San Diego-based biotechnology research startup, for nearly two years to replace nylon with a new plant-based version. The two have forged a multiyear partnership, with Lululemon announcing its equity investment in Geno in 2021. 

The Nylon Metal Vent, $78, and Swiftly Tech Short Sleeve Shirt, $68, are crafted from the plant-based material.

Lululemon net zero

The Lululemon net zero endeavor has significant meaning for Yogi Dandapure, the brand’s VP of raw materials innovation. Dandapure has been with the athleisure brand for nearly 16 years, based out of Lululemon’s store support center in Vancouver.

After completing his Master’s degree in textile engineering, Dandapure worked in manufacturing in four countries before joining Lululemon. At first, he focused on sourcing and developing raw materials as the brand expanded its manufacturing footprint, but it was his passion for innovation that led him to pursue raw material.

“As someone who has long been concerned about the impact of human activities on the environment, I have felt a strong desire to effect change, no matter how big or small,” he said. “Replacing the petrochemicals that make up many popular materials with more sustainable alternatives is a major step forward in reaching our goal to make 100% of our products with sustainable materials by 2030.”

By using plant-based sources to create the same high-performance materials Lululmeon consumers love, Dandapure says the brand can continue moving toward lower-impact materials while maintaining its product philosophy and ensuring the integrity of its supply chain. 

“I believe this represents a new era in the apparel industry,” Dandapure said of sustainable innovation. 

“As one of the early adopters of recycled polyester, we began using this material back in 2008 when few others were doing so. Similarly, we were pioneers in bio-based polymers, beginning in 2011. Nylon is our biggest opportunity – it’s the most abundant synthetic material currently used throughout the performance apparel industry,” he explained.

For those apprehensive about plant-based nylon, Lululemon assures that the new material behind its activewear shirts delivers the same lightweight feel and quick-drying ability for which the brand is known. 

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During its two years working with Geno, Lululemon tested various ways to integrate the groundbreaking material within its philosophy of creating products to help guests feel their best, according to Esther Speck, the brand’s senior vice president for global sustainable business and impact. 

As the fashion industry is a significant contributor to global greenhouse-gas emissions, focusing on environmental impact and reducing emissions is a critical and vital area for the brand, Speck told The Wall Street Journal. 

“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,” Speck said.

As for the scientific method behind the magic of turning plants to nylon, Lululemon has released a brief video to explain in layperson’s terms how fermented plant sugars create the building blocks for nylon. It’s a feat that Geno’s CEO and Founder, Christophe Schilling, says opens a new chapter for plant-based nylon.

“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,” he said.

Lululemon recently reported better-than-expected holiday quarter profit and full-year guidance, with the company’s performance remaining balanced across product categories, channels and regions.

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