TEXTILES.ORG
Milliken & Co. brand Polartec® has announced that it has eliminated per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in its durable water- repellent (DWR) treatments across its line of performance fabrics. A non-PFAS weather protection fabric treatment, offering zero loss of durability or water repellency according to the company, is the latest in Polartec’s EcoEngineering™ initiative.
As part of its sustainability efforts, Polartec has prioritized performance and longevity as it worked to eliminate PFAS in its DWR treatments. The new treatment will be used in the company’s weather protection fabrics and extend to fleece and insulation treatments for greater moisture management.
“Trial results have exceeded even our expectations,” says Mike Rose, Polartec vice president of product development. “There is no loss of performance from a water repellency or durability standpoint.”
“Achieving non-PFAS treatments within our product line is an important milestone in our commitment to sustainably made performance fabrics,” adds Steve Layton, Polartec president.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, certain PFAS are very persistent in the environment and in the human body, meaning they don’t break down and can accumulate over time. There is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse human health effects.
Since inventing the original PolarFleece® in 1981, Polartec engineers have created problem-solving technologies for products that are used by performance, lifestyle and workwear brands from around the world, the U.S. military and allied militaries, and contract upholstery markets.