Textile Insight

IN THE MARKET | PERFORMANCE DAYS Resource Management 14 • Textile Insight ~ January/February 2019 textileinsight.com Water Surfaces as Show Theme & Focus of Industry Innovation. s we are well aware, the textile industry plays a significant role in creating wastewater in the production of fibers and fabrics. Consider, for e xample, that the production of one kilogram of fabric requires up to 100 liters of water. However, these days, with sustain- ability top of mind, and protecting natural resources a key concern, Performance Days organizers took a deep dive into the topic of water conservation. "Water – Our Responsibility" had its own dedicated Boulevard in the exhibit hall, and was also the subject of expert discussion and trend presentations. Exhibitors, too, targeted new approaches to water usage, unveiling technologies that addressed the subject matter with innovative technologies and supply chain transpar- ency. Indeed, Performance Days organizers were flooded with new product introductions addressing sustainability in general, and water specifics, so much so that judges had difficulty choosing top honors for Performance Day awards. For the first time Performance Days was staged at the Messe München fairgrounds, where ISPO is exhibited. Exhibitors adjusted quickly to the new venue, a space more like a "trade show" in size and atmosphere than the previ- ous smaller, more intimate Performance Days location. The relocation proved success- ful with 3,201 visitors from 63 countries attending Performance Days in November, up from 2,001 visitors at its prior show, accord- ing to organizers. Hall C1 of the Messe München provided more floor space for about 100 new exhibitors than at the last fair in the M.T.C. The show program kicked off with a talk by Christian Lott, a marine biologist for Hydra Marine, who views himself, he said, as a synthetics researcher in light of today's critical water status. Panel discussions on subjects such as ocean waste fibers, water reduction from raw materials to finished product, including the dyeing of fabrics and textiles were well received. Christina Jönsson from the Swerea Research Institute lectured on "Water – the Bigger Picture." According to estimates from the World Bank, dye pro- cesses used by the textile industry account for around 20 percent of the world's industrial water contamination. Minimizing water consumption is a priority at Sympatex. Recent product development in this area was complimented by the introduction of a new line of spun-dyed laminates at Performance Days. In addition to saving water by relying on the Sympatex 100 percent polyether/polyester mem- brane, as opposed to using commercially available PTFE membranes, spun-dyed processes reduce the amount of water needed by roughly 75 percent on average, while decreasing the use of chemicals by as much as 90 per- cent, and without sacrificing performance, according to the company. The company states that thanks to the non-PTFE and non-PFC based, 100 percent recyclable Sympatex mem- branes, the monofraction laminates are ideal for closed textile loops and can be easily reused at the end of their product life cycle. "The only prerequisite for the extensive use of this dye technology is close collaboration between all of the partici- pants during the design process, since the color selection has to be mutually agreed upon at an earlier timeframe," explained Dr. Rüdiger Fox, CEO, Sympatex Technologies. "Given the acute environmental issues created by our industry in the manufacturing countries, plus the enormous ecological benefits that spun-dyed technologies bring, this should be an acceptable concession for all of those involved," Fox added. Innovation Rewarded Performance Days has highlighted innovations every season for the past 10 years with two awards presented at this show for outstanding new developments in the area of function and sustainability. The winner of the Eco Performance Award, for best ecological solution currently available on the market, went to Jou Jou Fish Company while the winner of the Performance Award was given to Green Threads. The laminate from Jou Jou Fish combines various sus- tainable technologies. Article "JYRNP0002 307" consists of 100 percent recycled nylon and is designed with a micro- porous membrane (functional performance 15K/10K) that is produced without solvents. This saves a lot of water, plus the fabric is made from pre-dyed (solution-dyed) fibers and the DWR coating is applied using a dry-finish treatment. The article "DPQ 1092 DWR" from Green Threads weighs only 17g/m² yet is highly functional; the lightweight fabric can achieve the same performance value as a 50g fabric. The fine nylon yarns have extremely good tear resistance. The spring edition of Performance Days Munich is slated to take place in Hall C6 at Messe München on May 8th-9th, 2019. l Performance Days has highlighted innovations every season for the past 10 years

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