The US company LanzaTech, which specializes in carbon recycling, has announced its collaboration with Inditex. The aim is to develop a capsule collection for Zara that consists of materials that have been produced from carbon emissions.
LanzaTech’s biological process captures and converts the emissions from steelworks that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. LanzaTech recycles the emissions through a fermentation process in Lanzanol (ethanol). The Lanzanol is then converted to low carbon monoethylene glycol by India Glycols Limited, which in turn is converted to low carbon polyester yarn by Far Eastern New Century (FENC). This yarn is used to make fabrics for a Zara collection of party dresses.
Industrial emissions aside, LanzaTech converts various feedstocks such as agricultural waste or household waste into ethanol through a fermentation process similar to that of beer or wine, only using carbon waste from sugar and microbes instead of yeast.
“LanzaTech has technology that can help fashion brands and retailers limit their carbon footprint,” said Jennifer Holmgren, chief executive officer of LanzaTech. “By working with Zara, we have found a new way to recycle carbon emissions to make fabrics.”