French recycling startup Syntetica has raised US$30 million in Series A funding to commercialize its proprietary process for recycling nylon from mixed textile waste.

Syntetica contributes to the chemical recycling of mixed textile waste. (Source: Syntetica)

The round was led by investment fund Ecotechnologies 2 with participation from other investors including Lululemon and MAS Holdings, one of Asia’s largest apparel manufacturers.

The funding will support construction of the company’s first commercial facility in France, capable of processing hundreds of tons of post-consumer textile waste annually.

Syntetica’s proprietary recycling technology for recycling mixed textile waste

Syntetica has developed a proprietary chemical recycling process that can recover the two most widely used forms of nylon from mixed textile waste. The method overcomes a complex technical hurdle that has long limited the material’s ability to be reused.

Unlike conventional recycling technologies, Syntetica’s process also works on blended fabrics containing materials such as elastane, cotton and polyester, eliminating the need for extensive pre-sorting before recycling.

Ready to scale and partner with fashion industry

Two years ago, Syntetica set up a pilot facility to scale its industrial capacity, producing virgin-quality recycled nylon.

Syntetica is already working with brands including Victoria’s Secret and Etam, and says it plans to expand its recycling platform as more fashion companies intensify efforts to secure scalable sources of recycled fibres, with upcoming regulation, including EPR and ESPR in Europe, likely to push minimum requirements for recycled content in apparel.