Nike signs multi-year deals with Syre, Loop to scale recycled polyester use

USA – Nike has signed new multi-year sourcing agreements with circular-economy cleantech startups Syre and Loop Industries, accelerating its push to use more recycled polyester across its footwear, apparel, and equipment lines.

The deals mark a major step in the sportswear giant’s strategy to cut carbon emissions and transition to lower-impact materials.

The company aims to reduce emissions from its operations by 65% and across its supply chain by 30% by 2030, compared to 2015 levels.

Materials remain a key challenge: in 2024, raw materials accounted for 34% of Nike’s total carbon footprint.

Earlier this year, Nike unveiled Aero-FIT, its first elite performance apparel collection made entirely from textile waste.

Syre, founded in 2024 by H&M Group and impact investor Vargas, focuses on mass-producing textile-to-textile recycled polyester.

The company aims to help the industry transition away from virgin polyester, which contributes up to 40% of global textile emissions.

Syre has already secured partnerships with Gap, Houdini Sportswear and Target, and the new Nike deal makes it the lead supplier of textile-to-textile recycled polyester for Nike’s core performance lines. Initial products are expected in the next few years.

“Having Nike commit to textile-to-textile generated polyester sends a powerful signal to the entire industry,” said Syre CEO Dennis Nobelius.

“This is the moment circular materials move from concept to commercial reality at scale.”

Nike says the Syre partnership marks a shift in its materials strategy. “Innovation is at the heart of Nike’s DNA,” said Sitora Muzafarova, VP of Materials Supply Chain.

“Recycled polyester is essential in our ambition to design breakthrough products that meet athlete expectations and advance sustainability.”

Canada-based Loop Industries uses depolymerization technology to turn polyester waste, from bottles, packaging, carpets and garments, into virgin-quality PET resin.

Under the new agreement, Loop will supply Nike with its “Twist” circular polyester resin and establish Nike as the anchor customer for a new India-based Infinite Loop production facility.

The plant is projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 81% compared to conventional polyester and save an estimated 418,600 tonnes of CO₂ annually.

Industry competitors are also moving aggressively into textile-to-textile polyester. Adidas recently expanded its partnership with Innovafil and Carbios to scale enzymatically recycled polyester for footwear uppers.

Puma is piloting fibre-to-fibre recycled polyester in select running lines through its textile recycling program “Re:Fibre,” while Lululemon has started integrating waste-derived polyester made by U.S. startup Samsara Eco into select leggings.

“As we scale sustainable solutions, partnerships like this are critical,” Muzafarova added. “Transforming textile waste into high-performance materials is the future of our industry.”

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