New recyclable yarn is as stretchy as spandex and could help tackle fashion’s plastic waste problem

Aug 15, 2026

Researchers have developed a recyclable polyethylene yarn that delivers strength and stretch comparable to spandex-containing fabrics while potentially making garments easier to recycle. Because both the stretchy core and outer fiber are made from the same plastic family, they can be recycled together without the difficult separation required for conventional blended fabrics.

 

https://www.livescience.com/chemistry/new-recyclable-yarn-is-as-stretchy-as-spandex-and-could-help-tackle-fashions-plastic-waste-problem