Devan Chemicals launches natural technology to make textiles free from pet allergens

Over the past few decades, pets have been climbing up the social ladder and have moved from outdoor protectors to indoor family members. The American Pet Products Association estimates that 65 percent of U.S. households own a pet, with cats and dogs being the most popular. In Europe, more than 30 percent of households own a pet. Although the data are not unequivocal, researchers believe this increasingly close contact between humans and pets and the resulting higher allergen exposures might be a reason for the increase in pet allergies.

In response to pet allergies, textile-finishing innovator Devan Chemicals has launched a technology to make textiles free from allergens shed by cats and dogs. Purissimo™ is a natural technology inspired by Purotex®, an allergen reduction technology used in the bedding industry. With a reduction in the house dust mite population of more than 99 percent, Purotex has proven to be a preventive strategy for reducing allergic diseases related to house dust mites.

Because allergies are not limited to beds and house dust mites alone, Devan came out with a solution for allergies triggered by pets such as cats (cat allergen Fel d 1) and dogs (dog allergen Can f 1). Test results show a reduction of 92.8 percent on the amount of cat hair allergen Fel d1 found in treated samples. The technology is based on probiotic bacteria and completely natural.

First, inactive probiotic bacteria are encapsulated into microcapsules. The microcapsules are then integrated into textiles and when the fabric is exposed to friction, the microcapsules break open and release spores. The spores absorb humidity, are then transformed into probiotic bacteria and consume the organic matter which contains the various allergens that cause allergic reactions and asthma.

Since pet allergens are also found in homes where there aren’t any pets (because of dispersion by adherence to textile surfaces such as clothing and shoes), Devan’s solution can also be used to treat household textiles such as carpets, curtains and upholstery fabrics and more.

For more information, visit www.devan.net.