Textile Insight

Mango Materials Biopolymer Is Based On Methane. 34 • Textile Insight ~ January/February 2019 textileinsight.com Source: Mango Materials The association holds that as a biocide, silver in the water system damages aquatic and sediment-dwelling organisms; and that the use of silver promotes the development of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. While the EU has not yet banned silver compounds used in sportswear, Sweden is considered a thought leader on sustainability and sits on the EU committee that reviews such issues. A few forward-thinking technology provid- ers have developed bio-based alternatives to silver chemistry for odor control. Introduced in 2015, Sciessent's Lava XL is their second- generation, non-silver chemistry for odor control. The technology uses zeolites, mineral- based substances from volcanic ash, to capture and degrade odor molecules. The company also offers Agion Active XL, a product that combines the Lava technology with Agion antimicrobial based on silver ions. Commenting on the issue, Sciessent CEO Paul Ford, and director of marketing and business development, Steven Cunningham, explain: "Odor control will continue to be necessary in activewear, and is our core competency. While the Nordic approach is precautionary, we don't believe it will be banned. We see things moving to customiza- tion, and want to have options in our portfolio." HeiQ introduced HeiQ Fresh FFL, a bio- based, non-antimicrobial odor control technology, a little under a year ago. A biomass- derived amino sugar polymer binds with the odor-causing components of sweat, which are then washed away during home laundering. Co-launched with functional clothing brand Odlo, HeiQ's latest odor-control technology, HeiQ Pure SQPR, combines their bio-based technology with 0.14 percent silver ions. (Most silver-based odor control treatments contain 1.4 percent silver ions, according to HeiQ.) The bio-based amino sugar polymer also creates a barrier on the fiber to prevent odor compounds from sticking on the textile. Considered an industry leader regarding sustainability, Patagonia will feature HeiQ Fresh Tech technologies beginning with its Fall 2019 collection after working in an R&D partnership with the Swiss company since 2017. "While we were happy with our previ- ous odor control solution, we were able to develop a better solution as part of our R&D Partnership with HeiQ," Matt Dwyer, director of material innovation and development at Patagonia, stated in a press release. According to David Parkes, whose company Concept III reps a number of performance textile and technology companies and recently added HeiQ to their roster, "Today business is being driven by sustainability. Everyone wants 'green' chemistry that does not have a negative effect on the environment."l Compostable clothing is no longer confined to natural fibers. HOW IT'S MADE Yarns created with Mango Materials biopolymer. TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION "We call it 'the unplastic." Anne Schauer-Gimenez, Mango Materials Methane gas emissions Waste facility Biodegradable products PHA biopolymer Microbial process

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