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Lululemon backs nylon-recycling startup Syntetica in $30M Series A
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Lululemon has invested in the $30 million Series A round of Syntetica, a French startup that developed a novel approach to recycling nylon. The activewear giant’s backing highlights the fashion industry’s growing urgency to tackle textile waste, as tons of clothing end up in landfills annually. Syntetica’s technology addresses a critical problem: recycling two common nylon variants, Nylon 6 and Nylon 6,6, which are difficult to separate from each other in consumer textile waste.
The company’s CEO, Marco Bertone, told TechCrunch that the startup’s method promises to recycle both types efficiently. This matters because nylon’s durability makes it valuable yet hard to reuse, and the fashion industry faces pressure from consumers and regulators to adopt circular solutions. Syntetica benefits from recent price volatility in the oil industry, which has caused quarterly or weekly nylon price renegotiations, serving as a wake-up call for brands reliant on petrol-based synthetics.
The Series A round was led by the Ecotechnologies 2 fund managed by Bpifrance, France’s public investment bank, as part of the France 2030 plan. Other investors include Lululemon, Victoria’s Secret, Etam, and large apparel manufacturer MAS Holdings. Bertone noted that it is unusual for a supply chain actor to invest in a pre-scale startup, but MAS’s involvement signals recognition of the problem’s significance.
Unlike many recycling startups, Syntetica will not produce textiles or novel materials. Instead, its process yields nylon pellets that can be used by others to make yarn for clothing. The company’s pragmatic approach emphasizes cost competitiveness and scalability over green premiums, with partnerships formed from the start. A key collaboration is with Michelin’s Center for Sustainable Materials to establish a commercial demonstration facility in Clermont-Ferrand.
Syntetica’s team combines business and chemistry expertise. Bertone, with a background in fashion and secondhand e-commerce, teamed up with chemistry researcher Louis Monsigny through Entrepreneurs First’s accelerator. They later hired CTO Ash Ward, formerly of failed battery company Northvolt, whose co-founder Peter Carlsson serves as an adviser. Bertone values this experience with scaling risks, noting that startups must take calculated risks to innovate.
The funding will be used to demonstrate the ability to produce hundreds of tons of pellets per year and deliver them to clients in the clothing supply chain. Bertone emphasized that the company will not diversify yet, focusing on scaling its nylon recycling process. After proving its technology, Syntetica plans to build facilities globally, close to waste sources and textile production hubs.
Looking ahead, Syntetica’s success could accelerate circularity in fashion by providing a cost-competitive recycled nylon alternative. With regulatory tailwinds and industry demand, the startup’s partnerships with major brands and manufacturers position it for growth. Its global ambitions are supported by its French base and public investment, though the path to scale remains challenging.
