Lindex and BASF Bring Textile-to-Textile Recycled Polyamide to Lingerie with Loopamid®
LUDWIGSHAFEN, Germany / STOCKHOLM, Sweden — Lindex, a leading Nordic fashion retailer, and BASF have announced a partnership to introduce loopamid®, BASF’s textile-to-textile recycled polyamide 6, into Lindex’s lingerie collections — marking the first application of chemically recycled polyamide in the intimate apparel segment.
The collaboration supports Lindex’s ambition that by the end of 2026, 100% of materials used will be recycled or sustainably sourced, and represents a significant step toward circularity in a product category historically dependent on virgin fossil-based synthetics.
Technology: loopamid®
loopamid® is BASF’s brand for polyamide 6 (PA6) produced via chemical recycling of post-consumer textile waste. The process:
- Feedstock: Post-consumer polyamide textiles (e.g., discarded garments, production waste)
- Depolymerization: Chemical breakdown to caprolactam monomer
- Purification: Removal of dyes, finishes, and contaminants
- Repolymerization: Virgin-quality PA6 with identical properties to fossil-based equivalent
Unlike mechanical recycling, loopamid® enables infinite recyclability without property degradation and accepts mixed-color waste streams.
Product Application
- Category: Lingerie / intimate apparel
- Material: loopamid® polyamide 6 (recycled content certified via mass balance)
- Launch: First products expected early 2027
- Scope: Initial capsule collection, with potential expansion across Lindex lingerie range
“Working with Lindex allows us to demonstrate that loopamid® meets the demanding requirements of intimate apparel — softness, stretch, durability, and next-to-skin comfort — while closing the loop on polyamide textiles,” said Dr. Ramkumar Dhruva, President of BASF’s Monomers division.
Circularity Targets
| Company | Target | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Lindex | 100% recycled or sustainably sourced materials | End of 2026 |
| BASF | Scale chemical recycling to 250,000 metric tons/year | 2030 |
The partnership also aligns with the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles and upcoming Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which will set mandatory recycled content thresholds for textiles.
Industry Significance
Lingerie represents a high-volume, high-turnover category where polyamide (nylon) is the dominant fiber due to its elasticity, durability, and comfort. Historically, end-of-life lingerie has been non-recyclable due to:
- Mixed fiber compositions (elastane blends)
- Hardware (hooks, adjusters, underwires)
- Hygiene perceptions limiting post-consumer collection
This partnership demonstrates a viable pathway for polyamide lingerie circularity via chemical recycling, potentially creating a new feedstock stream for loopamid® production.
Resources
- BASF Press Release: Lindex and BASF partner for loopamid® in lingerie
- NewswireToday distribution
- Knitting Industry coverage
- Apparel Views
- Innovation in Textiles
- Renewable Carbon News
Company Boilerplates
BASF is the world’s largest chemical company, with portfolio spanning chemicals, materials, industrial solutions, surface technologies, nutrition & care, and agricultural solutions. The Monomers division produces caprolactam, polyamide 6, and intermediates.
Lindex (part of Stockmann Group) is a Swedish fashion retailer with ~450 stores across 18 markets, offering lingerie, womenswear, kidswear, and cosmetics. Sustainability strategy focuses on circularity, climate, and transparency.
Source: BASF press release, May 2026