Lululemon has invested in Synthetica, a French deep-tech startup specialising in nylon recycling, through a $30 million Series A funding round. Other investors include Fidelity Management & Research Company, Temasek, and Generation Investment Management. Synthetica developed a patented low-temperature chemical recycling process that can depolymerise nylon-rich mixed textiles without pre-sorting, yielding high-purity Nylon 6 and Nylon 6,6. The startup is collaborating with Michelin's Centre for Sustainable Materials in France to scale the technology, targeting industrial volumes from 2027. The investment supports Lululemon's sustainability goals. The company aims for 100% of its products to use preferred materials by 2030, but faces challenges sourcing recycled nylon. In 2023, only 6% of Lululemon's nylon came from recycled sources, despite nylon comprising 31% of its fibre usage.

Syntetica, a French startup that has developed a novel approach to recycling nylon, has already obtained big-name partners and investors.

French deeptech startup Syntetica has raised $30 million in Series A funding led by Bpifrance's Ecotechnologies 2 fund, with participation from athletic apparel brand Lululemon and major apparel manufacturer MAS Holdings. The Paris-based company recycles nylon textile waste using a low-temperature process that can handle both Nylon 6 and Nylon 6,6 together, eliminating the need for separation. This addresses a longstanding industry challenge, as the two materials are chemically indistinguishable once mixed. Syntetica worked confidentially with Lululemon for two years before the investment. The funding will build a commercial demonstration facility with Michelin in Clermont-Ferrand, expected to produce commercial quantities of recycled nylon within 18 months. The company previously raised $4.58 million in July 2024, bringing total funding to approximately $34.5 million. Syntetica now employs 22 people and works with brands including Victoria's Secret and Etam.