Circular materials innovator, Samsara Eco today announced the expansion of its Nylon Materials Collective, welcoming the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) alongside leading global brands including Burton, W. L. Gore & Associates, Black Diamond Equipment, Red Wing Shoe Company, and Big Agnes.
The expansion marks a significant milestone for the Collective, which launched in November 2025 in partnership with the European Outdoor Group to accelerate the adoption of circular nylon across the outdoor industry.
Nylon can have a significant carbon footprint in performance apparel and equipment, depending on material type, production route and application, yet remains essential for its strength, durability and technical performance, making circular alternatives critical.
With the addition of Outdoor Industry Association, the Collective now connects a network of an additional 100+ outdoor brands that are part Climate Action Corps and Clean Chemistry & Materials Coalition. These groups have committed to reducing emissions and harmful chemicals in its supply chain. The Collective supports both objectives and comes at a time when industry stakeholders are increasingly focused on chemical transparency, traceability and material stewardship in recycled content streams.
“Collaboration across the value chain is critical to scaling circularity. By bringing together industry leaders, associations and supply chain partners, we’re building the infrastructure needed to make circular materials the default, without asking brands to make compromises,” commented Paul Riley, Founder and CEO of Samsara Eco.
“Material performance remains non-negotiable. Burton, W. L. Gore & Associates, Black Diamond Equipment, Red Wing Shoe Company, and Big Agnes are names synonymous with technical excellence, performance and innovation. Their involvement reinforces that circular materials are the way forward. We’re proud to welcome these brands to our Collective and continue helping shift the industry towards a circular future.”
The Nylon Materials Collective brings together brands and supply chain partners to simplify the adoption of Samsara Eco’s high-performance recycled nylon. By delivering validated material due diligence and supporting simplified pathways to recycled nylon, the Collective enables brands of all sizes to adopt circular materials more efficiently, reducing the logistical and commercial barriers that have traditionally slowed adoption.
The inclusion of Outdoor Industry Association strengthens the Collective’s reach across North America, complementing its existing partnership with the European Outdoor Group and reinforcing its global footprint.
Together, these organisations represent an important cross-section of the outdoor industry uniting brands around a shared ambition to transition towards circularity.
“Sustainability is a catalyst for strengthening the outdoor industry, and collaboration is how we scale that impact,” said Julie Brown, Sr. Director of Industry Engagement and Impact, Outdoor Industry Association. “By joining the Nylon Materials Collective, we are helping our members reduce environmental impact, navigate evolving regulations, and accelerate the shift to circular materials without compromising performance. This is about turning shared challenges into shared solutions, and ensuring the outdoor industry continues to lead with responsibility, resilience, and innovation for the long term.”
Outdoor brands are uniquely positioned to lead the shift towards circularity. Built on a foundation of durability, performance and environmental stewardship, the sector has long prioritised product longevity and responsible innovation.
By joining the Nylon Materials Collective, participating brands are reinforcing that commitment, taking practical steps in support of a more circular model, with the aim of keeping materials in use for longer and reducing waste.
Dr. Katy Stevens, Head of ESG at the European Outdoor Group commented: “We are pleased to see the continued expansion of the Nylon Materials Collective and the growing commitment from industry partners worldwide. By opening up access to circular materials for smaller organisations alongside global brands, this initiative demonstrates how collaboration can help scale practical solutions and accelerate progress towards circularity.”
Christian Mayer, International Product Specialist, Gore Fabrics, also commented: “At W. L. Gore & Associates, we apply materials science to deliver durable, high performance products while working to reduce environmental impact. We see chemical and enzymatic recycling as a viable technology to increase global supply of textile-to-textile material. Engagement in initiatives like the Nylon Materials Collective enables dialogue and shared learning around materials management, while we continue to apply high standards for durability and chemical stewardship.”
The announcement builds on Samsara Eco’s recent momentum, including a 10-year partnership with athleisure brand LSKD, further demonstrating the demand for high-performance, recycled materials.
The Collective will showcase at the European Outdoor Group’s Outdoor Impact Summit taking place later this week in Riva del Garda, Italy.
More on the Collective can be found here.
About Samsara Eco
Samsara Eco is a circular materials biotech creating circularity for plastics and textiles with its AI-powered enzyme platform. Using engineered enzymes, Samsara Eco breaks down end-of-life materials – including complex and mixed plastics and textiles – into their original building blocks so they can be remade into virgin-quality materials infinitely. The company has raised over USD $107 million from world-leading investors including Temasek, Greycroft, Hitachi Ventures, Main Sequence, and lululemon. It was named Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies 2025, Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas and TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025.
About European Outdoor Group
The European Outdoor Group was founded in 2003 (formally constituted in 2005) by 19 of the world’s largest outdoor companies, all of which recognised the need for a cohesive, cross border approach to representation of the outdoor sector. In a world of increasing internationalisation, legislation, environment, the media and trade are all now multinational issues. The combined strength of the EOG’s membership of around 150 provides the group with an extremely powerful force to represent the European outdoor industry in a constructive and positive manner.
Visit www.europeanoutdoorgroup.com.
About Outdoor Industry Association
Based in Boulder, Colo., with offices in Washington, D.C., Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is a catalyst for meaningful change. A member-based collective, OIA is a passionate group of business leaders, climate experts, policy makers and outdoor enthusiasts committed to sustainable economic growth while protecting – and growing access to – the benefits of the outdoors for everyone. For more than 30 years, OIA has catalyzed a thriving outdoor industry by supporting the success of every member company across four critically aligned areas: market research, sustainability, government affairs, and inclusive participation. OIA delivers success for its members through education, events, and business services in the form of solutions and strategies, consultation, collaboration, and opportunities for collective action. For more information, visit outdoorindustry.org.
About Burton
In 1977, Jake Burton Carpenter founded Burton Snowboards out of his Vermont barn and dedicated the rest of his life to snowboarding. Since its founding, Burton has played a pivotal role in growing snowboarding from a backyard hobby to a world-class sport by creating groundbreaking products, supporting a team of top snowboarders, and pushing resorts to allow snowboarding. Today, Burton designs and manufactures industry-leading products for snowboarding and the outdoors. As a sustainability leader within the outdoor and winter sports industries, Burton is the world’s first snowboard company to become a certified B Corporation®. Privately held and owned by Donna Carpenter, Burton’s headquarters are in Burlington, Vermont with offices in Austria, Japan, Australia, Canada and China. For more information about Burton, visit www.burton.com and follow @burtonsnowboard on TikTok, @burtonsnowboards on Instagram, and facebook.com/burtonsnowboards.
About Gore Fabrics
Gore introduced GORE-TEX® Fabric to the outerwear industry more than 45 years ago and continues to develop performance apparel technologies. Gore’s Fabrics products provide comfort and protection in challenging environments and in everyday life, enabling wearers to safely and confidently achieve and experience more. From hiking in downpours to defense operations and fighting fires, Gore’s deep understanding of consumer and industry needs drives development of products with meaningful performance advantages. https://www.gore-tex.com and https://www.
About W. L. Gore & Associates
W. L. Gore & Associates is a global materials science company dedicated to transforming industries and improving lives. Since 1958, Gore has solved complex technical challenges in demanding environments – from outer space to the world’s highest peaks to the inner workings of the human body. With more than 13,000 Associates and a strong, team-oriented culture, Gore generates annual revenues of $5 billion. For more information, visit gore.com. Products listed may not be available in all markets. GORE, GORE-TEX, Together, improving life and designs are trademarks of W. L. Gore & Associates. © 2026 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
About Black Diamond Equipment
Born from a legacy of climbing since 1957, Black Diamond designs equipment for those who live and breathe the vertical, the backcountry, and the mountain. At our core, we are a company of users. That’s who we are. Because of this, the creation of Black Diamond is a process that will never end. Today, you can find us at the base of the Wasatch Mountains in Salt Lake City, Utah, where we are immersed in our commitment to designing and engineering the most innovative mountain equipment in the world.
About Red Wing Shoe Company
Founded in 1905 in Red Wing, Minnesota, Red Wing Shoe Company is a global leader in purpose-built footwear and workwear. The company designs, manufactures, and distributes premium products across a portfolio of brands, including Red Wing, Irish Setter, and Worx. With a vertically integrated model that includes U.S.-based manufacturing and its own SB Foot Tanning Company, Red Wing Shoe Company is built on a legacy of craftsmanship, quality, and innovation. For more than a century, the company has remained committed to equipping workers and outdoor enthusiasts with durable products that perform in demanding environments and support the people who build and sustain our world.
About Big Agnes
Named for a peak in the nearby Mt. Zirkel Wilderness, Big Agnes®, Inc. is located in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and celebrates its 25th Anniversary in 2026. The company produces award-winning sleeping bags, pads, tents, insulated apparel, camp furniture and backpacks. For more information, visit www.bigagnes.com or call 1-877-554-8975.
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