Collaboration combines Prime Polymer’s proprietary polypropylene compounding technology and Newlight’s Aircarbon® PHB in a biomolecular alloy to create a new textile material platform that addresses one of polypropylene fiber’s long-standing limitations: dyeability.
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Prime Polymer, a Japan-based polyolefin manufacturer, and Newlight Technologies, a U.S. biomaterials company using microorganisms to convert methane into high-performance materials, announced the successful development of a new polypropylene-based textile material combining polypropylene with Aircarbon® PHB to deliver the lightweight advantages of polypropylene, dyeability comparable to PET (polyester), and an improved environmental profile.
The new material combines Prime Polymer’s polypropylene alloy design and compounding technology with Newlight’s Aircarbon® PHB biomaterial platform.
Polypropylene has long been recognized as a lightweight, durable, and moisture-resistant fiber material. However, its limited dyeability has historically constrained broader adoption in apparel and footwear applications.
Through this collaboration, Prime Polymer and Newlight have successfully developed a material that can be processed from compound pellets into yarn and knitted or woven fabrics while exhibiting dyeability comparable to polyester using conventional disperse dye systems. The companies have demonstrated the successful conversion of the material into yarn and textile structures, creating a practical pathway toward wider adoption of polypropylene-based textiles.
The resulting material offers a unique combination of:
- PET-like dyeability
- Lower weight than polyester
- Mechanical performance suitable for apparel and footwear applications
- Improved environmental impact through the incorporation of Aircarbon® PHB
This innovation opens new possibilities for the adoption of polypropylene-based materials across performance apparel, outdoor products, footwear, socks, and other textile applications.
Enabling Next-Generation Textile Solutions
The apparel industry continues to seek materials that can simultaneously improve product performance and reduce environmental impact. While polypropylene offers significant benefits in weight reduction and moisture management, its limited dyeability has historically restricted broader use in mainstream textile applications.
The new material developed by Prime Polymer and Newlight is designed to overcome this long-standing barrier by combining dyeability, lightweight performance, and sustainability in a single material platform. By enabling the use of conventional disperse dyeing technologies, the material can support broader adoption within existing textile supply chains while expanding the design possibilities available to apparel and footwear brands.
The material is currently being evaluated by multiple global brands for applications including footwear, performance apparel, socks, and technical textile products. Prime Polymer and Newlight will continue collaborating with partners throughout the textile value chain to accelerate commercialization and market adoption.
Prime Polymer and Newlight share a vision of enabling a new generation of textile materials that combine performance, design flexibility, and sustainability. Through continued collaboration with textile manufacturers, apparel brands, and footwear companies, the companies aim to support the transition toward lower-impact, high-performance textile solutions.
About Prime Polymer
Prime Polymer Co., Ltd., is a Japan-based polyolefin manufacturer specializing in polypropylene and polyethylene materials. The company develops advanced polyolefin solutions for a wide range of applications, combining materials expertise and manufacturing capabilities with an ongoing focus on performance, innovation, and sustainability.
About Newlight Technologies
Every day, microorganisms in nature convert air and methane into a performance polymer called PHB. Over more than 20 years, Newlight Technologies has worked to replicate this biological process on land and at scale. Today, Newlight uses this material, called Aircarbon® PHB, to couple environmental technology with economic growth, using methane as a resource to make products stronger, lighter, faster, and cleaner.
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SOURCE Newlight Technologies, LLC
