Nilit and Asahi Kasei unveil biomass balanced fabric concept

Israeli fibre manufacturer Nilit and Japanese chemical company Asahi Kasei have announced a collaboration aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of the apparel industry. Unveiled at the trade fair ISPO Munich, the partnership introduces a new fabric concept that combines Sensil ByNature, a biomass balanced nylon 6.6, with Biomass Balanced Roica premium stretch fibre.

Both companies utilise the Biomass Balance (BMB) method for these materials. This approach integrates renewable feedstocks derived from reclaimed and recycled organic waste. According to the companies, these inputs do not compete with food sources and do not require the allocation of land for production.

Sensil ByNature is described by Nilit as the first textile nylon 6.6 for apparel created using BMB renewable feedstock sourced from biogenic waste. Simultaneously, the Biomass Balanced Roica fibre incorporates renewable raw materials to replace traditional fossil hydrocarbons. Asahi Kasei has indicated that Roica will concentrate its BMB manufacturing efforts at its plant in Taiwan, which serves as the company's primary hub for this specific production.

Seamless integration for brands

A key feature of the collaboration is the compatibility of the new materials with existing manufacturing processes. Because BMB products are chemically and physically identical to traditional offerings, fabrics engineered with Sensil ByNature and Biomass Balanced Roica retain the same comfort, aesthetics and performance levels as conventional counterparts. This allows fashion brands to incorporate these sustainable options without the necessity of redesigning their collections.

To ensure credibility and transparency, both companies utilise BMB accounting and have secured certification under the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification Plus (ISCC+) system. This third-party verification controls the allocation of renewable feedstocks throughout the supply chain.

Regarding the environmental impact, Nilit data indicates that Sensil ByNature lowers greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 1.8 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent per ton of yarn when compared to traditional nylon. Asahi Kasei projects that the new Roica fibre, combined with manufacturing optimisations, will also result in reduced emissions compared to existing products. However, the company noted that specific figures are not yet available as production decisions have only recently been finalised.

The companies stated that the blend of these fibres supports circularity initiatives through renewable inputs and improves Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) scores while maintaining the stretch performance expected by consumers.