Japanese fiber specialist Toray Industries, Inc. and one of the leading fabric suppliers to the sports industry, has developed a nylon 510 (N510) fiber made from 100 percent bio-based synthetic polymers, the company said in a press release. The new fiber “Ecodear N510” was developed by polymerizing sebacic acid from castor and pentamethylenediamine from corn. It complies with ISO 16620-1:2015, the international standard for the bio-based content of plastics. It is the first 100% plant-based nylon fiber in Toray’s sustainable Ecodear range and is particularly suitable for sports and outdoor fabrics, but also for lightweight linings. Unlike other purely plant-based nylons, Ecodear N510 has a high melting point and excellent dimensional stability, the company says. The fiber is just as strong and heat resistant as Nylon 6, enabling companies to create products that are sustainable without sacrificing performance.
Nylon is usually made from petroleum. With the increasing demand for environmentally conscious products in recent years, Toray has been offering polyester, nylon and other polymers, some of which are plant-based, for years.
Ecodear N510 is part of the Toray Group’s efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and aims to help apparel companies around the world reduce their own carbon footprint.
Sales start of Ecodear N510 textiles is planned for autumn/winter 2023, the initial production volume is planned to be 200,000 meters by the end of March 2023 and increased to 600,000 meters by March 2026.