Lululemon is making significant strides in sustainable fashion. The athleisure brand has announced a decade-long agreement with Samsara Eco, an Australian startup specializing in AI-powered enzymatic recycling. This partnership aims to source nearly one-fifth of Lululemon's fiber mix from recycled materials by 2035.
This move aligns with Lululemon's 2030 goal of using only "preferred materials," which include recycled or sustainably sourced options. The brand has increased its use of these materials from 27% to 47% between 2020 and 2023, with a target of 75% by 2025.
Lululemon is also investing in other sustainable initiatives. This includes backing startups like Geno and ZymoChem, and utilizing chemicals from LanzaTech. The company is also expanding its resale channel. Despite these efforts, Lululemon faces criticism for its reliance on virgin synthetics and its increased climate emissions.
Samsara Eco's technology uses customized enzymes to break down mixed polymers, including polyester and nylon, within minutes. The company aims to process 1.5 million tons of plastics annually by 2030.