Aquafil

What Aquafil does

Aquafil S.p.A. is an Italian public company founded in 1965 and headquartered in Arco (Trento), Italy, listed on Euronext Milan (ticker BIT: ECNL). The company is one of the world's leading producers of polyamide 6 (Nylon 6) and the developer of the ECONYL® Regeneration System, a chemical recycling process launched in 2011 that depolymerizes pre- and post-consumer nylon waste — including fishing nets, carpets, industrial plastics, and (since March 2025) elastane-nylon blends — back into caprolactam and repolymerizes it into regenerated nylon with performance equivalent to virgin material. Aquafil operates across 8 countries with over 2,800 employees, running manufacturing facilities in Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, China, and Chile, plus sales offices in the US, Japan, Thailand, and the UK. The company's product portfolio is organized around four lines: nylon yarn for clothing (textile yarn for apparel and sportswear brands), nylon yarn for carpets (BCF — Bulk Continuous Filament, where Aquafil claims global #1 position), engineering polymers for plastic molding (eyewear, furniture), and Aquafil Engineering (equipment and services).

Aquafil's commercial model is primarily enterprise B2B, with direct sales of nylon yarn and polymers to more than 2,600 brands across luxury fashion (Prada, Burberry, Gucci, Stella McCartney, Stone Island), automotive (BMW, Hyundai, Maserati, Polestar, Röchling), flooring (Interface, Bentley Mills, Milliken, OBJECT CARPET, Ege), aviation (Lantal), aquaculture (Nofir, Philosofish, Diopas), and marine interiors (AIDA Cruises, Radici Marine). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The company complements B2B sales with the ECONYL® e-shop (B2C since July 2021) for direct-to-consumer sales of partner-brand products, and runs the R2R® ("Born Regenerated to be Regenerable") program for co-designing dismantlable, recyclable carpets. Beyond core fibers, the company is investing in adjacent material platforms: an ECONYL-based 3D printing filament developed with Asahi Kasei for automotive and aeronautical applications (Oct 2024), the MAGRITTE consortium project with University of Trento for large-format additive manufacturing (May 2024), and the Aquafil Carpet Separation (ACS) technology for recycling complex multi-material flooring.

Aquafil is funded primarily through operating cash flow and capital markets as a public company, with two notable 2024–2025 capital events: a €40 million capital increase in November 2024 and a €30 million ESG-linked circular financing facility from Intesa Sanpaolo in December 2025 (backed by the SACE Growth Guarantee and tied to renewable-energy and water-reduction KPIs). Strategic partnerships span research (Georgia Tech since 2013 on elastane separation; Stiima CNR on the ISO 4484-2:2023 microplastics standard), industry supply chains (Itochu, Asahi Kasei, Radici Marine), and waste-collection networks (ACCA joint initiative with Atando Cabos in Chile for end-of-life fishing gear). The company holds extensive certifications (ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, 50001; Oeko-Tex, Cradle to Cradle, EPD, REACH, IMO, AEO, UNI/PdR 125) and has been recognized with an EcoVadis Platinum Medal, placing it in the top 1% of more than 150,000 companies assessed.

Name

Aquafil

Legal name

Aquafil S.p.A.

Website

https://aquafil.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Aquafil is an Italian public producer of polyamide 6 (Nylon 6) and the developer of the ECONYL® chemical recycling system, selling yarn, polymers, and engineering services to 2,600+ brands across luxury fashion, automotive, flooring, marine, and aquaculture globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Synthetic Fibers and Polymer Materials

NAICS

Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing (3252), Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing (32522), Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills (31311)

SIC

Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821), Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300)

akta.pro primary industry

Chemical Recycling & Depolymerization (e.g., PET/Polyamide/Cellulosics) (IMAOAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regenerated & Recycled Fiber Production (rPET/rNylon/Regenerated Cellulose) (IMAOAMAD), Compounding & Additives for Recycled Plastics (Compatibilizers, Stabilizers, Color) (EUAIAKAJ)

Keywords

• Regenerated nylon yarn
• Polyamide 6 production
• Chemical nylon recycling
• Carpet filament yarn
• Engineering polymers molding

Headquarters

HQ city

Arco

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Nylon Yarn for Clothing: Sale of nylon yarn and synthetic fibers to fashion, apparel, and sportswear brands. Includes both virgin and ECONYL regenerated nylon products.
2. Nylon Yarn for Carpets (BCF): Bulk Continuous Filament (BCF) yarn for carpet and textile flooring applications serving automotive, residential, luxury, and contract sectors globally.
3. Polymers for Plastic Molding: Polymers used in plastic molding industry for fashion accessories (eyewear frames) and furniture (chairs, small tables, lamps).
4. Engineering Services: Aquafil Engineering provides high engineering quality equipment and services for manufacturing operations.
5. ECONYL E-commerce: Direct-to-consumer e-shop launched July 2021 offering products made from ECONYL nylon from various global brands.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Aquafil manufactures and sells polyamide 6 (nylon 6) products across four areas: carpet yarn (BCF), textile yarn for clothing, engineering polymers for plastic molding, and engineering services. Its flagship offering is ECONYL® regenerated nylon produced via a chemical recycling process that depolymerizes nylon waste (fishing nets, carpets, industrial plastics) and repolymerizes it into caprolactam for virgin-quality yarn, supported by the ECONYL Regeneration System.

Product overview

Aquafil is organized in 4 key product areas: Nylon Yarn for Clothing, Nylon Yarn for Carpets (BCF), Engineering (equipment and services), and Polymers for Plastic Molding. The company's flagship innovation is the ECONYL® Regeneration System (launched 2011), a chemical recycling process that transforms nylon waste into regenerated nylon maintaining virgin-quality performance. The product portfolio includes ECONYL® Bespoke Collection (three specialized yarn lines for rugs: ReLana, ReSeta, Terra), standard carpet yarn (BCF), textile yarn, engineering polymers, and the R2R® circular carpet program. Aquafil also operates the ECONYL® e-shop direct-to-consumer platform. Recent innovations include the elastane separation demonstration plant (March 2025) enabling recycling of blended textiles, the MAGRITTE 3D printing project, and Aquafil Carpet Separation (ACS) technology for complex flooring materials. The Bloom Back IMO-certified carpet collection, developed with subsidiary Radici Marine, extends the portfolio into marine applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ECONYL®: Regenerated nylon brand made from pre- and post-consumer waste such as fishing nets and discarded carpets. The flagship circular economy product of Aquafil.
• R2R® (Born Regenerated to be Regenerable)
• Dryarn
• ECONYL® Bespoke Collection
• RadiciMarine

Products and services

• ECONYL® Regenerated Nylon Regenerated nylon yarn and polymer produced via the ECONYL Regeneration System that chemically recycles pre- and post-consumer nylon waste into caprolactam and repolymerizes it into virgin-quality nylon for fashion, automotive, flooring, marine, and other industrial applications.
• ECONYL® Bespoke Collection A curated line of regenerated ECONYL® nylon yarns in three finishes (ReLana wool-like, ReSeta silk-like, and Terra natural fiber-like) designed for rug and carpet makers seeking sustainable luxury materials.
• Carpet Yarn (BCF)

Quantifiable outcome

• 70,000 barrels of crude oil saved per 10,000 tonnes of ECONYL raw material
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers25 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FibrXLcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 12 June 2026Official distributor of ECONYL regenerated nylon in ropes market. Partnership combining material distribution with end-of-life recovery solutions for circular systems in the ropes industry.
• Sesia&CominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Italian design collaboration bringing together Aquafil, Brembo, Boffi|DePadova, My Style Bags, and DMD. Partnership showcases rugs made with ECONYL Bespoke yarns across 12 colors of the Sesia&Co chromatic system.
• Röchling AutomotivecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Automotive supplier partnership driving circular change in mobility through use of ECONYL regenerated nylon in automotive components and interior applications.
• UK Sustainable Flooring Alliance (UKSFA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Trade association formerly known as Carpet Recycling UK, bringing together manufacturers, retailers, recyclers, and policymakers to advance circular design in flooring. Aquafil participates in webinars and shares information about circular carpet projects including Aquafil Carpet Separation Machine.
• EcoContractminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 September 2025Showroom partner in Milan (Palazzo Bocconi) showcasing ECONYL Bespoke Collection alongside carpets by Ege, representing circular design solutions in luxury interior spaces.
• InterfacecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Global flooring company and long-standing ECONYL partner presenting new carpet collections with ECONYL nylon during NeoCon and Chicago Design Week events.
• Bentley MillscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Premium commercial flooring manufacturer incorporating ECONYL nylon into carpet collections to create flooring with lasting design impact.
• MillikencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Flooring company integrating ECONYL nylon into carpet collections that bring together bold design and responsible approach to flooring.
• Asahi KaseicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 October 2024Japanese company focused on advanced materials research and development. Partnership developing PA6 3D printing filament reinforced with cellulose nanofibers (CNF) for automotive and aeronautical sectors. Itochu Group also supports the project, strengthening the shared commitment to innovation and sustainability.
• ITOCHU CorporationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2024Japanese trading company supporting the Aquafil-Asahi Kasei 3D printing materials partnership, strengthening shared commitment to innovation and sustainability in Asian markets.
• University of TrentocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Academic partner in MAGRITTE project developing high-performance ECONYL-based material for large-scale 3D printing (LFAM). Collaboration combines material innovation with academic research expertise.
• Caracol AMcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 May 20243D printing technology company partner in MAGRITTE project for developing and testing material formulations in real-world large-format additive manufacturing environments.
• ProM Facility (Trentino Sviluppo S.p.a)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 May 2024Research facility partner in MAGRITTE project providing advanced manufacturing capabilities for testing and developing ECONYL-based 3D printing materials.
• IndivenirecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 May 2024Research partner in MAGRITTE project contributing to development of circular additive manufacturing solutions and material innovation.
• Radici MarinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Italian marine textile company developing Bloom Back, an IMO-certified carpet collection made entirely of polyamide 6 using ECONYL regenerated nylon. Partnership under R2R program for circular marine interior design solutions.
• NofircoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Norwegian company developing the first high-tenacity fishing net made with ECONYL regenerated nylon for salmon farming applications. Partnership addresses challenges in Norwegian aquaculture sector with innovative circular solutions.
• PhilosofishcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Greek aquaculture company working with Aquafil to develop highly durable fishing nets made with ECONYL regenerated nylon using cutting-edge technology for greater longevity and optimal performance.
• DiopascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Greek manufacturer specializing in nets made from recycled materials. Partnership developing first fully recyclable fishing nets using ECONYL regenerated nylon for sustainable aquaculture.
• Stiima CNR (National Research Council of Italy)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Institute of Intelligent Industrial Systems and Technologies for Advanced Manufacturing. Partnership contributed to creation of international standard ISO 4484-2:2023 for measuring fibrous microplastics. Joint research on textile waste recycling and microplastic pollution prevention.
• ACCA (Aquafil Chile and Atando Cabos)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Joint initiative (Aquafil Chile and Atando Cabos) operating recycling facility in Puerto Montt, Chile for collecting and sorting end-of-life fishing gear with initial capacity of 2,500 tons per year.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Toray Industries: Japanese chemical and fiber giant operating the EcoCircle closed-loop nylon recycling system. Most direct competitor to Aquafil's ECONYL — both depolymerize nylon waste back to monomers and re-polymerize into virgin-quality fiber for apparel and industrial uses.
• Hyosung TNC: Korean producer of regen nylon (Mipan regen) and recycled spandex, with similar chemical recycling positioning in fashion and performance textiles. Direct competitor in regenerated polyamide yarns for global apparel brands.
• Fulgar: Italian manufacturer of synthetic yarns including Evo by Fulgar (bio-based and recycled nylon). Comparable in geography (Italian specialty yarn supplier), product positioning (sustainable nylon for fashion), and customer overlap with premium European brands.
• Radici Group: Italian chemical and textile group producing polyamide 6 and recycled nylon, including the high-performance Radilon range. Notably also partners with Aquafil (Radici Marine IMO-certified carpets), and competes in the same European apparel and contract flooring markets.
• Nurel (Nylstar): European (Spanish) manufacturer of polyamide 6 yarns including Meryl Skinlife and recycled nylon lines. Competes with Aquafil in technical textile yarns for sportswear, intimate apparel, and hosiery segments.

Broad incumbents

• BASF: Global chemical giant with broad polymer portfolio including recycled and bio-based polyamides under its Performance Materials and Circular Economy programs. Much larger scale and broader product set, but overlapping on circular nylon chemistry and automotive/textile applications.
• Ascend Performance Materials: World's largest fully integrated producer of polyamide 6,6 resin, fiber, and engineered plastics. Competes in nylon polymer feedstock and fiber markets though focused on 6,6 rather than 6, with growing recycled content offerings.
• INVISTA: Major global nylon 6,6 producer (Cordura, Stainmaster brands) with sustainability initiatives and historical leadership in polyamide chemistry. Competes with Aquafil in carpet and apparel fiber markets; broader product portfolio.
• Solvay: Belgian specialty chemicals company with a strong engineered polymers portfolio including polyamides and circular material initiatives. Overlaps with Aquafil in high-performance polymer markets for automotive and industrial uses.

Emerging players

• Worn Again Technologies: UK-based chemical recycling startup focused on textile-to-textile polyester and cotton recycling. Addresses adjacent feedstock (blended textiles) where Aquafil's elastane-separation technology is positioned; emerging direct/indirect competitor in circular fashion materials.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aquafil-spa

Compliance15 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aquafil