Ocean and Landfill Waste Turned into a Nylon Replacement?
Posted on: October 5th, 2020
Recycling is the art of converting something which is considered waste into a viable, reusable solution. Luxury automotive giant Jaguar Land Rover is doing just that by using Econyl nylon components made from ocean and landfill waste.
“More and more of today’s products are being manufactured with recycled content,” according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “Recycled materials are now being used in new ways such as recovered glass in asphalt to pave roads or recovered plastic in carpeting and park benches.”
The initiative is what Jaguar Land Rover calls its “Destination Zero Mission” to eliminate ocean and landfill waste. Next generation models will feature interiors crafted from recycled industrial plastic, fabric offcuts from the manufacturing of clothing and fishing nets used in farming to name a few.
The Econyl regenerated nylon is already being used throughout other industries such as in the manufacturing of high-end fashion, sportswear, watch straps and handbags.
From Recycling Today.
“The nylon waste is reclaimed by Aquafil from all over the world. In one year, the company recycles as much as 40,000 metric tons of ocean and landfill waste, with the recycling process reducing the global warming impact of nylon by 90 percent compared with the material produced from oil, the company says. Further, for every 10,000 metric tons of Econyl raw material produced, 70,000 barrels of crude oil are saved and 65,100 metric tons of carbon emissions equivalent are avoided.”
Adrian Iles, the senior engineer of interior systems at Jaguar Land Rover, said, “We place a great deal of focus on the creation of new sustainable materials, using the latest, most innovative techniques and textiles. This pioneering material research is one of the key ways we’ll achieve this and is an integral part of our design offering to our customers.”
Jaguar Land Rover is taking a dramatic stand to help reduce their carbon footprint by using recycled materials coming from ocean and landfill waste.
While your organization may not be able to afford such news technologies in your operations, small changes like utilizing fiber molded pulp solutions in packaging and containers is an economical and impactful place to start.