Neste, Goldwin, Idemitsu and Toray Establish Renewable Nylon Supply Chain for The North Face
HELSINKI / TOKYO — Neste, Goldwin Inc., Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., and Toray Industries, Inc. have announced a strategic partnership to establish a commercial supply chain for renewable nylon 66 fiber destined for The North Face products sold in Japan, with first retail availability scheduled for August 2026.
The collaboration creates a traceable, mass-balanced value chain from renewable feedstock to finished apparel, addressing the outdoor industry’s need for lower-carbon technical materials without compromising performance.
Value Chain Architecture
| Partner | Role | Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Neste | Feedstock supplier | Neste RE — 100% renewable hydrocarbon from waste & residue lipids |
| Idemitsu Kosan | Monomer production | Cracks Neste RE to produce renewable hexamethylenediamine (HMD) |
| Toray Industries | Polymerization & spinning | Produces nylon 66 fiber using renewable HMD via mass balance |
| Goldwin Inc. | Brand integration | Incorporates fiber into The North Face products (Japan licensee) |
Mass Balance Certification
The supply chain operates under ISCC PLUS mass balance certification, enabling allocation of renewable content to specific output volumes. The resulting nylon 66 fiber carries a verified reduced carbon footprint while maintaining identical chemical structure and performance to fossil-based nylon 66.
Product Launch Timeline
- August 2026: First The North Face products with renewable nylon fiber reach Japanese retail
- Initial application: Selected jacket models (specific SKUs to be announced)
- Goldwin’s target: 100% recycled or sustainably sourced materials by end of 2026
“This partnership demonstrates that high-performance outdoor gear can transition to renewable materials without sacrificing the technical properties our customers depend on,” said Toru Kimura, President of Goldwin Inc. “The mass balance approach gives us a credible, auditable pathway to reduce fossil carbon in our supply chain today.”
Environmental Impact
Preliminary LCA data indicates ~50% reduction in cradle-to-gate GHG emissions for the renewable nylon 66 fiber compared to fossil benchmark, driven by:
- Avoided fossil feedstock extraction
- Waste lipid utilization (circular feedstock)
- Mass balance allocation methodology
Industry Context
The outdoor apparel sector faces increasing pressure from:
- EU Textile Strategy & Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)
- Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) commitments by major brands
- Consumer demand for verifiable sustainability claims
Mass-balanced renewable nylon offers a drop-in solution compatible with existing manufacturing infrastructure — a key advantage over novel bio-based polymers requiring new value chains.
Resources
- Neste Press Release: Renewable Nylon for The North Face
- WebWire distribution
- Goldwin Inc. News (Japanese)
- Ecotextile News coverage
- WWD: The North Face Dipping Its Toe Into Renewable Nylon
Company Boilerplates
Neste (Nasdaq Helsinki: NESTE) is the world’s leading producer of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel, and a major provider of renewable feedstock for polymers and chemicals.
Goldwin Inc. is the Japanese licensee and distributor for The North Face, operating the brand’s retail and wholesale business in Japan since 1995.
Idemitsu Kosan is a Japanese petroleum and petrochemical company expanding into renewable chemicals via strategic partnerships.
Toray Industries is a global leader in fibers, textiles, and advanced materials, including nylon 66 and carbon fiber.
Source: Neste press release, June 2026