Zara launched a limited line of dresses in different styles made from carbon emissions.
They partnered with LanzaTech, the global leader in gas fermentation technology. The Chicago-based company captures carbon emissions and turns the pollution into ethanol, transforming them into polyester thread used to create the nylon. The dresses are available for purchase on Zara.com but not sold in stores.
This is the first clothing to come to market using LanzaTech’s technology. Earlier this year, LanzaTech announced a collaboration with lululemon. They also announced a partnership with On for their running shoes, and LanzaTech is working with Loreal and COTY, among other companies.
To make polyester fabric, you need MEG and PTA. LanzaTech makes MEG from ethanol (converting to ethylene oxide and then MEG) and together with PTA makes polyester. Today PTA comes from fossil inputs, but we can make 100% of the MEG from recycled carbon. The final PET contains 20% MEG (Monoethylene Glycol) made from recycled carbon emissions and 80% PTA (Purified Terephthalic Acid), so the garment has polyester made of 20% industrial carbon emissions.
Here is a copy of our release:
LanzaTech and Zara Collaborate to Create a Capsule Collection
Made from Recycled Carbon Emissions
CHICAGO (December 13, 2021) -- Today, biotech company LanzaTech has announced a collaboration with Inditex that led to the design of a capsule collection for the retail group’s largest brand Zara that incorporates fabric made with carbon emissions, avoiding their emission into the atmosphere (CarbonSmart™).
“We are hugely excited about this collaboration with Inditex and Zara which brings fashion made from waste carbon emissions to the market,” said Jennifer Holmgren, Chief Executive Officer of LanzaTech.
LanzaTech’s biological process captures and converts steel mill emissions that would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. LanzaTech recycles the emissions into Lanzanol (ethanol) through a fermentation process. The Lanzanol is then converted into low carbon monoethylene glycol by the company India Glycols Limited which is then converted into low carbon polyester yarn. This yarn has been used to make fabric for a Zara capsule collection of party dresses.
Beyond industrial emissions, LanzaTech converts different feedstocks including agricultural or household waste into ethanol through a fermentation process much like that of beer or wine, only using waste carbon from sugars and microbes, instead of yeast.
“LanzaTech has the technology that can help fashion brands and retailers limit their carbon impact,” Holmgren said. By working with Zara, we have found a new pathway to recycle carbon emissions to make fabric.”
