BASF Launches First Commercial Loopamid Plant For Recycled Polyamide 6
Shanghai facility to produce 500 metric tonnes annually, certified under GRS
BASF has commenced operations at the world’s first commercial loopamid plant at its Caojing site in Shanghai, China. With an annual capacity of 500 metric tonnes, the facility marks a significant step toward sustainable solutions for the textile industry.
“The startup of this plant once again demonstrates BASF’s innovative strength,” said Stephan Kothrade, Member of the Board of Executive Directors and CTO of BASF SE. “Loopamid transforms textile waste into a valuable resource, helps save raw materials and closes the textile loop.”
Loopamid is a recycled polyamide 6, entirely derived from textile waste. The new facility supports the growing demand for sustainable PA6 fibres in the textile sector. Ramkumar Dhruva, President of BASF’s Monomers division, highlighted that loopamid enables textile-to-textile recycling, including blends with elastane, contributing to the circular economy and customers’ sustainability goals.
GRS Certification and Expanding Waste Sourcing
The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certification ensures that loopamid is produced from verified recycled materials under strict environmental and social criteria. The plant is already supplying certified loopamid to yarn manufacturers.
Currently, BASF sources post-industrial textile waste from manufacturing, including cutting scraps, offcuts and defective cuts. The company plans to increase the share of post-consumer waste, such as end-of-life garments, which require advanced sorting and removal of non-textile components like buttons and zippers.
BASF is actively working with partners to enhance collection and sorting systems for polyamide 6 waste, reinforcing its commitment to advancing circularity in the textile industry.
