Econyl thread is a material made from recycled fishing nets and other polyamide waste. Products made with this material can also be recycled to generate new items

Sustainable technologies are gaining more and more presence in the Automotive industry, driven largely by customer demands. To strengthen this sector, BMW uses Econyl, a yarn made from recycled fishing nets, to make the floors and mats of the BMW i3.

Through a statement, the company confirmed that since 2016, the BMW Group has used Econyl yarn, made from recycled polyamide (PA), to manufacture the floors and mats of the BMW i3, BMW iX and other models.

Threads from recycled fishing nets

Daniela Bohlinger, Head of Sustainability at BMW Group Design, visited Aquafil CEO Giulio Bonazzi in Ljubljana, Slovenia, where Econyl yarn is produced from recycled fishing nets and other polyamide waste. Compared to petroleum-based PAs, manufacturing Econyl yarn from recycled materials results in a reduction of up to 90% in global warming potential.

“At the BMW Group, we want to lead the automotive industry in the direction of sustainability. From the beginning, we considered the entire life cycle of the product and increasingly use materials that can be recycled and then used for other purposes, ”explained Bohlinger. “Since Econyl yarn has a wonderful range of colors, it’s easy for us to design with it. Of course, any product made from recycled materials must look flawless and offer exceptional quality. “

Recyclable material for the Automotive industry

So far, Econyl PA is a material used by more than 1,000 brands around the world, including Breitling, Stella McCartney, Prada, Gucci and Adidas.

Once products made from Econyl yarn reach the end of their useful life, they can be recycled one more time and converted into other new products. “You can continue to recycle these products as many times as you want. This is true sustainability, ”said Giulio Bonazzi, president and CEO of Aquafil. “We really value our support of leading companies like the BMW Group as we work to establish a global circular economy.”