Turning Waste Into Virgin-Grade Nylon
We recover high-value nylon from end-of-life textiles and plastics, enabling true circular manufacturing.
Our TechnologyOur Mission
To reduce the amount of plastic waste in the world, starting with the streams that matter most. We are going after the most challenging yet most abundant plastic waste: mixed plastics that are considered non-recyclable today.
Through next-generation catalyst technology, we transform post-consumer and post-industrial waste back into virgin-grade nylon feedstocks, empowering partners across industries to eliminate waste and reduce environmental impact at scale.
Fast
Quantitative conversion achieved in record time
Green
Solventless process
Real-World Plastics
Demonstrated with post-consumer products and mixed plastics
Our Product
Fiber-Grade Caprolactam
Virgin-quality monomer recovered from waste, meeting the same purity standards as conventionally produced caprolactam.
No Green Premium
Priced at market cost, delivering a sustainable material without the sustainability surcharge.
True Drop-In Replacement
Directly usable by Nylon-6 producers with zero process changes. Same specs, same infrastructure, no retooling required.
Our Impact
Our process significantly reduces emissions while preserving material value, turning waste into a competitive advantage.
Near-complete monomer recovery from post-consumer nylon waste streams
Caprolactam can be repolymerized and recycled again and again, closing the circle with no material degradation
Our technology eliminates the need for petroleum-derived raw materials, producing caprolactam entirely from waste streams
Our Technology
Our End Markets
Impact calculator
Every ton of recycled caprolactam replaces a ton made from oil, and almost all of the emissions with it.
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new T-shirts
Our Team
The scientists and leaders behind our innovation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions we are asked most often by brands, manufacturers and investors.
What does NylaNova do?
NylaNova recycles post-consumer and post-industrial Nylon-6 waste back into virgin-grade caprolactam, the monomer new Nylon-6 is made from. The catalyst technology was developed at Northwestern University and is exclusively licensed to NylaNova. Founded in 2024, based in Evanston, Illinois.
What is caprolactam?
Caprolactam is the single monomer that all Nylon-6 is made from, normally produced from petroleum. It is a market of roughly 11 million metric tons a year, about half of which goes into textile fibers for apparel and carpet. We recover the same molecule from nylon waste.
How does the technology work?
Nylon waste is depolymerized back into caprolactam using catalysts developed at Northwestern, then purified to fiber grade. The reaction is solvent-free, runs in under an hour and returns more than 90% yield. It works on mixed nylon waste with no pre-sorting.
Is recycled caprolactam the same quality as virgin?
Yes. It meets the same purity standards and is a true drop-in replacement for Nylon-6 producers, with no process changes or retooling. Because the material is recovered as a monomer rather than melted down, it does not degrade with each cycle.
Does it cost more than virgin nylon?
No. Our caprolactam is sold at the market price of virgin caprolactam, so partners get a circular material with no green premium. That is what makes it usable at volume rather than only in limited collections.
How can we work with NylaNova?
We work with brands and manufacturers, feedstock providers, researchers and investors. Use the contact form below or email [email protected] and we will get back to you.
Ready to Work Together?
Partner With Us
Let's accelerate circular nylon together. Whether you're a brand, manufacturer, or investor, we want to hear from you.
Contact
1801 Maple Avenue, Suite 5408
Evanston, IL 60201
