Bio-Based Nylon: Bridging Sustainability, Innovation and Performance in Technical Textiles

January 16, 2026

Clear insight into competitor positioning and market share.

Bio-based nylon is a type of polyamide fiber that is produced using renewable, plant-derived feedstocks instead of fossil-based chemicals. Firstly, the nylon monomer is obtained through a biological fermentation process and then converted into chips through a polymerization reaction, making nylon a green, energy-saving and emission-reducing material. The bio-based nylon molecular structure is similar to that of petroleum-based nylon. Still, bio-based nylon offers improved sustainability by reducing dependence on crude oil, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and sometimes enhancing biodegradability, depending on the formulation.

Source: Polyamides: Bridging Sustainability and Performance, BioSourced, 2025

In the tables below, a comparison of raw material sources and sustainability between traditional nylon and bio-based nylon is presented.

Raw Material Source:

Type	Raw Material Source
Traditional Nylon 6/66	Petrochemical (Crude Oil Derivatives)
Bio-Based Nylon 11	Castor Oil (Ricinoleic Acid)
Bio-Based Nylon 610	Sebacic Acid (from Castor Oil) + Hexamethylene Diamine
Partially Bio-Based Nylon 66	Adipic Acid + Bio-Derived Diamine

Source: Raw Material Source, Szoneier, 2025

Sustainability Benefits:

Factor	Bio-Based Nylon	Traditional Nylon
Fossil Resource Use	Very Low	High
Carbon Footprint	Up to 60% Lower	High
Biodegradability	In Some Grades	Minimal
Production VOCs	Reduced	Higher

Source: Sustainability Benefits, Szoneier, 2025

One of the significant changes happening worldwide in the textile and industrial fabric industry is a move toward sustainable practices. As brands, governments and end users are calling for less carbon footprints, less dependence on fossil fuels, and more eco-friendly material solutions, bio-based nylons are picking up steam as one of the most appealing green material options in the area of technical textiles. These include nylon 11, nylon 610, nylon 56 and partially bio-based nylon 66.

Evolution of Bio-Based Nylon

Period	Description
1980–1990	Commercial‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ Maturity of Bio-Based PA-11 (Nylon 11): In this period, PA-11 (made from castor oil) was already widely used in various industrial applications (e.g., tubing and automotive). Its supply chain and applications were not only stable but also expanding.
1990–2000	Consolidation and Niche-Strengthening: PA-11 maintains its position in the specialty market, primarily due to its origin from renewable sources and its unique properties for engineering applications. There is a small amount of new bio-based nylon chemistry, although demand is maintained at a high-performance level.
2000–2010	Sustainability Momentum and Early Bio-Monomer R&D: The increasing attention to environmental issues has led to the initiation of R&D, as well as pilot projects, on bio-based monomers. Companies are exploring fermentation and biomass-derived feedstocks as the next best alternative to crude petrochemicals.
2010–2020	Breakthroughs in Fermentation-Based Nylon-6 Monomer (Caprolactam) Production: A significant change is that biotech companies are leading the way in producing caprolactam (a precursor to nylon-6) from renewable sources. Genomatica and Aquafil inked a collaboration deal in 2018 to scale a “GENO CPL™” bioprocess for caprolactam production from plant-based feedstocks.
2020–Present	Demo/Precommercial Scale Production, Bio-Nylon-6 Validation and Bio-Nylon-66 Precursors: · In July 2022, Genomatica and Aquafil completed the first demonstration-scale production of plant-based caprolactam, converted it into nylon-6 polymer and initiated evaluation of yarn/engineering plastics. · Aquafil announced in 2023 that the company’s demonstration plant in Slovenia is successfully manufacturing bio-caprolactam at a pre-industrial scale.

Source: Company website, published articles and press releases

Key Applications for Bio-Based Nylon in Technical and Industrial Textiles

Automotive Industry: Bio-based nylons deliver superior resistance to fuels, brake fluids and under-hood temperature cycling.

Application	Preferred Bio-Based Nylon Type
Fuel Lines	Nylon 11
Brake Lines	Nylon 610
Air Ducts	Nylon 610
Electrical Harnesses	Nylon 11

Source: Applications, Szoneier, 2025

· Outdoor Gear and Apparel: Brands promote bio-based nylons to align with the growing demand for eco-conscious consumer products.

Product	Preferred Bio-Based Nylon Type
Backpacks	Nylon 610
Technical Jackets	Nylon 512
Tents and Tarps	Nylon 610
Ropes and Webbing	Nylon 610

Source: Applications, Szoneier, 2025

· Industrial and Safety Gear: Low moisture absorption improves dimensional stability and reduces weight gain in wet conditions.

Application	Preferred Bio-Based Nylon Type
Industrial Slings	Nylon 610
Conveyor Belts	Nylon 610
Safety Harnesses	Nylon 610
Marine Rope	Nylon 11

Source: Applications, Szoneier, 2025

Medical Industry: Biocompatibility and chemical resistance support patient safety and high sterilization standards.

Product	Preferred Bio-Based Nylon Type
Surgical Sutures	Nylon 11
Tubing and Catheters	Nylon 11
Medical Bags	Nylon 610

Source: Applications, Szoneier, 2025

· Electronics and Electrical: Excellent flexibility, even at low temperatures, reduces the risk of cracking.

Application	Preferred Bio-Based Nylon Type
Cable Sheathing	Nylon 11
Connectors	Nylon 610
Wire Insulation	Nylon 11

Innovation and Technological Advances in Bio-Based Nylon

OzoneBio of South Korea has developed a "zombie cell catalysis" operation in 2023 that transforms wood waste into bio-based adipic acid with a 98% yield, which is then polymerized to form nylon-66. With this, the company has paved the way for one of the first high-efficiency, lignocellulosic routes for nylon-66 production, thus reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Toray Industries managed to produce 100% bio-based adipic acid through microbial fermentation of sugars derived from non-food biomass in 2022. Their process is free of nitrous oxide emissions, which are a significant contributor to global warming in traditional adipic acid synthesis. Thus, it permits an increase in the bio-nylon-6,6 production capacity.
In 2023, scientists unveiled a metallocene catalyst that is capable of depolymerizing nylon-6 to its monomer ε-caprolactam in a matter of minutes, thereby obtaining ~99% recovery. Such an ultra-fast chemical recycling technique enables the production of nylon in a closed loop by recovering monomers of virgin quality from waste.
In 2023–2024, Genomatica employed engineered microbes to synthesize caprolactam (the monomer of nylon-6) directly from plant sugars, which is called GENO-CPL. With this breakthrough, the company demonstrated a scalable, fermentation-based production — a significant milestone toward renewable nylon-6 fibers and plastics.

Future Outlook

The bio-based nylon market has a futuristic outlook that is going to be heavily transformed by innovations in technology, renewable chemistry and global sustainability mandates. Research efforts are increasingly focused on making monomer production from renewable sources such as biomass, algae and waste oils more efficient, while also aiming to consume less energy and release fewer emissions into the environment. In fact, breakthroughs in enzymatic polymerization, microbial fermentation and CO₂-based synthesis are expected to have a positive impact on yield, scalability and environmental performance. Thus, bio-based nylon will be considered a sustainable counterpart to petroleum-based nylons.

Innovations will focus on optimizing molecular structure to achieve improved mechanical strength, thermal stability and recyclability, which in turn will enable various industrial sectors, including automotive, electronics and performance textiles, to utilize bio-based nylon. However, it remains a question of whether the high production costs and feedstock limitations can be addressed to make bio-based nylon commercially viable. Collaborations between biotechnology developers, chemical producers and end-use manufacturers will be the primary driver of the market’s transition to circular and low-carbon materials.

The production of bio-based nylon is expected to be primarily sourced from non-edible biomass, lignocellulosic sugars, agricultural residues and forest by-products, which will serve as the primary feedstocks, thus marking a clear departure from food-based raw materials. This achievement is expected to enhance the significance of bio-based nylon not only in the carbon neutrality mission but also in sustainable polymer development across industries.

Strategic Takeaways for Industry Leaders

Innovators are changing the bio-based nylon industry via the support of biotechnological fermentation, catalytic conversion of bio-feedstocks, and carbon-efficient monomer synthesis pathways. The manufacturing of bio-based nylon 66, nylon 6, 10, and nylon 11 is increasing rapidly as industries become more compatible with the principles of green chemistry, corporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) frameworks, and global decarbonization targets. This enables large-scale production, secures long-term supply contracts, confirms renewable monomer technologies, and facilitates the formation of strategic collaborations across the polymer value chain. Hence, they can upgrade their ESG rating, enhance their brand positioning, and secure green financing.

Leading global manufacturers such as BASF, Toray Industries Inc., Evonik Industries AG and Arkema S.A.—known for its Rilsan bio-based polyamide series—and DSM Engineering Materials, are spearheading the development of bio-based polyamides derived from renewable resources such as castor oil and bio-adipic acid. Their innovative efforts focus on reducing

Looking for Consulting & Advisory Projects

Stay Informed

Join our mailing list for the latest report releases and upcoming event notifications.

Headquartered in Boston, Mass., for over 50 years, BCC Research takes pride in being your trusted custom research and data analysts. Our mission is to provide businesses with reputable data and market research reports, so that they gain new perspectives into their field and better understand their target audience. We enable companies to access reliable information, accurate forecasts, and actionable insights, so that they may become leaders in their industry.

AI Sentiment