Safilo has introduced Econyl regenerated nylon in its eyewear collections in partnership with Aquafil.
Econyl is a regenerated nylon obtained through the regeneration and purification process of plastic waste, such as fishing nets, old carpets and fabric scraps. Econyl, obtained through a process of depolymerization and re-polymerization, “performs exactly the same as brand new nylon and it can be recycled, recreated and remoulded again and again, with no loss of quality,” according to a press release from the companies.
“The choice of this material, never before used in the mass production of eyewear, is a tangible sign of Safilo’s further progression in its sustainability strategy and its commitment to bring innovation to a consolidated industry,” according to the release.
“Our investment to using recycled materials highlights our continued efforts towards promoting a responsible business,” said Angelo Trocchia, CEO of Safilo Group. “This sustainable material will allow us to make our contribution and create products without using new resources. Our intention is to expand the use of ECONYL as much as possible in order to decrease our carbon footprint.”
Giulio Bonazzi, Aquafil’s CEO, said: “Safilo has a long history of creating high-quality eyewear products, and we are happy to partner with such a strong player in the eyewear industry. It is a completely new sector in which our ECONYL material is now used, and it is this pioneering spirit that most unites us with a company like Safilo, which, like us, has innovation in its DNA.”
The new Tommy Jeans eyewear collection, recently launched by Tommy Hilfiger, one of the licensed brands in Safilo’s portfolio, is the first that features styles made of Econyl regenerated nylon. Safilo will progressively introduce this material also in its other brands’ collections, according to the release.