Let’s start by busting a common myth. People often assume that natural fibers are good for the environment, while synthetic fibers are bad. But of course, reality is not that simple. So, my first question to you is how should we really assess a fiber’s sustainability?

“That’s a great question and also a good place to clarify what we actually mean by sustainability. It’s a term that is used often, but the scope of it is much broader and more complex than most people realize. Sustainability is a concept built around three main pillars: environmental, social, and economic, and at its core, it’s about cultivating the long-term well-being of people and the planet.

Now, if we look at textiles specifically, the industry remains one of the biggest contributors to environmental impact and carbon emissions. It involves everything from air and water pollution to the overuse of natural resources, chemical exposure, poor labor conditions, and of course, the massive accumulation of waste in landfills and oceans. To give an example, many dyeing processes use a huge amount of water and the chemical runoff can contaminate rivers and lakes.

So sustainability in that sense emerged as a response, a way to rethink how we produce and consume and how to reduce the pollution and resource depletion associated to traditional and industrial manufacturing. And those issues apply to all fibers, natural and synthetic alike.

So to properly assess a fiber’s sustainability, we need to look beyond whether it’s natural or synthetic and instead consider its entire life cycle. That means tracing it from how the raw materials are sourced and processed to how the product is used and what happens at the end of its life. We have to think about how much energy and water it requires, what kinds of chemicals are involved in its production, and whether it can be reused, recycled, or safely returned to nature.

Now, the ultimate goal is to move toward more regenerative systems that don’t just sustain but actively restore. That means replenishing the resources we use, improving ecosystems, and supporting social equity along the way. Longevity and ethics are at the heart of these practices and how we choose material, how we design, and think about the lifespan of what we create.”

Thank you very much, Celine, for this brief yet quite comprehensive overview. Now, let’s try and make this even more concrete for our audience. Let’s compare two specific fibers: wool on one side, which is natural and renewable, and nylon on the other, which is synthetic and fossil-based. Starting with wool, what are its main advantages and challenges sustainability-wise?

“That’s an interesting comparison because wool and nylon sit at the opposite ends of the textile spectrum. Wool is, like you said, natural and renewable, and nylon is synthetic and fossil-based. But as mentioned earlier, it’s not as simple as saying natural is good and synthetic is bad. The reality is far more layered and nuanced.

If we start with wool, its biggest environmental impact happens right at the beginning during fiber production. Sheep are renewable fiber producers and they need a lot of land and water for grazing. And when the plants they eat break down in their stomachs, they release methane, which is a powerful greenhouse gas. So even though wool is a natural and biodegradable fiber, meaning it can easily disintegrate in nature, its biological origins come with significant climate cost.

And on top of that, wool must go through several chemical processes before it can be used as a textile fiber: to remove impurities, to prevent degradation, and to achieve long-lasting colors, which actually further adds to wool’s environmental footprint. That said, once the fiber is produced, the rest of the process from manufacturing to end use tends to have a relatively lower impact. So although wool fibers are naturally fully biodegradable, it’s important to consider the many processing steps they undergo, which can introduce contaminants like micro-residues or heavy metals from synthetic dyes that may persist at the end of the fiber’s life.”

Super interesting. Thank you, Celine. Now, what about nylon? What are the key sustainability-related challenges and opportunities there?

“So yes, nylon is made from fossil fuels and the fibers are created in labs through a process called polymerization. This process has a higher cost in terms of energy use, so most of nylon’s environmental impact comes from its production. That said, nylon is also incredibly strong, long-lasting, versatile, and easy to maintain, which makes it a good fit for applications where durability is key and truly matters.

So the main challenge with nylon comes at the end of its life cycle. It doesn’t biodegrade and if not properly managed, it can shed microplastics. So to simplify, wool’s challenges are biological, so due to methane emissions and land use, and nylon’s challenges are industrial, and that’s due to energy consumption and dependence on fossil fuels. Each has its strengths and limitations, but they can both evolve toward more sustainable models through different pathways: and that’s regenerative agriculture for wool and circular closed-loop recycling for nylon.”

I think you made a very crucial point here, which is that no matter if it’s synthetic or natural, every fiber has room to evolve and to be a part of a better system. So as a final question, what needs to change looking ahead, both in technology and in industry practices, to make natural and synthetic fibers more sustainable?

“So looking ahead, making natural and synthetic fibers more sustainable will require more than just new technology. It’s about rethinking the whole industry or how the whole industry operates.

The ECONYL® Brand or the ECONYL® regeneration system, for example, turns nylon waste like fishing nets and old carpets into brand new fibers, reducing the need for virgin fossil resources. It’s a great example of how innovation can close the loop and give materials a second life. On a different scale, upcycling and the second-hand market also play a vital role in extending or prolonging the life of textiles we already own.

But recycling alone isn’t enough. We also need fibers designed with circularity in mind from the start: materials that are easier to recycle, that avoid blends with non-recyclable fibers, and require less water, energy, and chemicals to produce.

Equally important are industry practices: brands, manufacturers, and supply chains need to prioritize longevity, repairability, and transparency. And that means investing in closed-loop systems, reducing overproduction, and making sustainability a core business principle rather than just a marketing point.

Consumer behavior matters too, as a matter of fact. If people buy less, choose higher quality items, and care for their textiles and embrace recycling programs, then the impact multiplies. The future of sustainable fibers isn’t a single solution, it’s a combination of material knowledge, responsible production, and a culture shift in how we make, use, and value textiles. Every step we take, even small-scale initiatives, can ripple through the industry, influence it, and make a difference.”