Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1416509
As Earth-friendly Tech Developments Advance, Performance Improves. ustainability has sparked a surge in responsible developments in functional fabrications in recent years, and continues to serve as a strong market driver. Yet despite recent advances in PFC-free and bio-based textile solutions, belief remains, especially among consumers, that going "green" means giving up performance. Not any more. New earth-friendly textile finishes and membranes are raising the bar, often exceeding indus- try standards for water-repellency, breathability and durability, and as such raising consumer expectations on the ability of today's textiles to be both high-tech performers and low impactors on the planet. Textile execs point to climate as the critical factor influencing innovation, as a sense of urgency to curb weather extremes is accelerating material science research on reducing reliance on natural resources and lessen carbon emissions. From fires and floods, to droughts and dangerous downpours, there is no escaping the role water plays in the big picture of climate change. This realization is central to Green Theme Technologies' water-free EMPEL textile finishing process. "When you want to engage people with a sustainable option, incremental change is nice, but will not provide a big difference. You have to get to the root cause," explained Martin Flora, VP business development, Green Theme Technologies, Inc., (GTT). "Water is the connective tissue between carbon footprint, effluent discharge, and toxic chem- istry and is the main culprit, and foundational issue in our industry." By replacing traditional water-based wet finishing processes currently used to apply water repellents, dyes, and the EMPEL process, GTT, and its partner brands, can directly impact water pollution worldwide. The technology is resonating, says Flora, who out- lines a handful of recent GTT successes, that includes securing a Series A round of funding of $3.5M, inking a licensing agreement with YKK to use EMPEL technology on zippers, and a flurry of other developments taking shape, including footwear application (with major brands); FR innovation ( Department of Defense); new stain release testing; water-free dyeing for denim; and joint ventures to treat wool for a variety of properties. "We're really starting to ramp up now and expand," said Flora. Membrane Modern Combining all-weather performance and sustainable solutions is the name of the game in membrane technol- ogy. This approach is the basis for eVent fabrics' newest waterproof membrane, eVent BIO, that's derived from highly renewable and sustainably sourced castor beans. Blended with virgin nylon, the bio-based membrane is S TECHNOLOGY | CLIMATE-CONSCIOUS SOLUTIONS & GOOD CLEAN 17 • Textile Insight ~ September/October 2021 textileinsight.com "Water is the connective tissue between carbon footprint, effluent discharge, and toxic chemistry and is the main culprit, and foundational issue in our industry." Martin Flora, VP business development, Green Theme Technologies