At this year’s Performance Days, the functional fabric fair taking place 13-14 November in Munich, ingredient brand Pertex will announce its sustainability aims and targets, following the completion of the brand’s first Sustainability Report.
The report highlights the brand’s commitment to minimising its environmental impact through responsible product and business practice.
Pertex aim to do the following:
- Reduce demand for virgin raw materials by replacing them with materials from recycled waste streams.
- Reduce energy and water consumption.
- Eliminate the use of potentially harmful chemicals.
By 2022, Pertex wants 80 percent of its fabrics to contain a minimum of 50 percent recycled content. Currently, the brand’s Pertex Eco range of fabrics contain between 50 to 100 percent recycled content, with polyester fabrics deriving from post-consumer and post-industrial nylon recycled content.
The brand also wants 100 percent of its fabrics to use non-fluorinated DWR finishes, as Pertex has been developing high-performing, non-fluorinated DWR finishing technology since 2010.
Finally, Pertex aim to introduce solution dyed products, as conventional bath dying is one of the most polluting, energy and water-intensive processes of fabric production. In contrast, solution dying uses up to 60 percent less water and reduces CO2 emissions by up to 50 percent.
The brand will combine this sustainable outlook with their focus on pushing the boundaries of performance fabrics and innovation. This vision is reflected in the launch of the superlight 10 denier Pertex Quantum, which is made from 100 percent recycled nylon, along with the new YFuse fabrics, made from 100 percent recycled polyester and nylon.
Rab’s brand director, Tim Fish, highlights why Pertex is its brand of choice: “At Rab, we aim to work with partners who are as committed as we are to delivering quality products with positive sustainability credentials. That’s why working with brands like Pertex, who actively work to minimise their environmental impact and who understand the importance in protecting the world we live in, is so important to us.”
As part of the brand’s responsible and sustainable practice, EOCA member Pertex works with a number of independent certification bodies, including Bluesign, OEKO-TEX and Global Recycled Standard.
Words by Riana Dixon