Toray Industries, Inc., has announced confirmed a collaboration with Yoshida Co. to jointly create materials for Tanker bags employing Ecodear N510, a 100% plant-based nylon fiber. Yoshida’s Porter brand makes and sells bags under the flagship Tanker line, which it inaugurated 40 years ago. This fiber incorporates 100% biobased synthetic polymer content as defined under section 3.1.5 of ISO 16620-1: 2015, the international standard for the biobased content of plastics.
The outer fabric of the bags will incorporate Ecodear 510, which manufactures by polymerizing and spinning sebacic acid from castor oil and pentamethylenediamine from corn.
Unlike other wholly plant-based nylons, Ecodear N510 has a high melting point and outstanding dimensional stability. It is as strong and heat-resistant as Nylon 6. Since commercializing it in 2022, Toray has explored new applications for this material to pursue advances under its sustainability vision.
For the Tanker line revamp, Yoshida and Toray started developing novel materials and products employing that harness the benefits of the plant origins and practicality of Ecodear N510.
This collaboration culminated in Toray mass-producing Ecodear 510 by employing the advanced spinning technology it has accumulated over the years. Yoshida adopted this material for the outer fabric of Porter’s Tanker because it matches that company’s strength and quality requirements for bags.
For the lining, Porter has used Toray’s chemical-recycled nylon fibers derived from fishing nets and other sources. Both companies will together keep developing a variety of environmentally friendly materials and products.
New Tanker series bags employing Ecodear N510 in the outer fabric and chemical-recycled nylon in the lining will be available at stores around Japan from next spring.
The need for environmentally friendly materials has surged in recent years amid social demands on companies and a growing awareness of the need to achieve a sustainable economy. Starting with their collaboration, Toray and Yoshida will help to reach that goal by using fewer fossil-derived resources and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
Ecodear is a registered trademark of Toray Industries, Inc. Porter and Tanker are registered trademarks of Yoshida Co.