Nylon 6 provides a good example of rematerialization. This widely used polymer can be chemically recycled into the raw material caprolactam, which can be used to make generation after generation of high-quality carpet fibre.In effect, the process virtually eliminates waste – very little energy or material is lost. Given the hundreds of millions of pounds of carpet fibre that each year are sent to landfills or incinerators or recycled into products of lesser value, the significance of rematerializing nylon 6 is enormous. And it suggests an effective new model for material flows.