As the popularity of outdoor activities continues to grow, so too does the demand for high-performance clothing that can withstand the rigors of the great outdoors.
Outdoor enthusiasts rely on clothing to keep them comfortable and protected from the elements. However, the manufacturing and disposal of outdoor clothing can have a significant impact on the environment, particularly when it comes to microplastic pollution. Biodegradable coatings for outdoor clothing offer a promising solution to this problem.
What are the issues with outdoor clothing?
Microplastics can come from a variety of sources of outdoor clothing, including the breakdown of larger plastic items, synthetic fabrics, and coatings or treatments on outdoor clothing. These microplastics can be released into the environment during normal use and can contribute to the accumulation of plastic pollution. Commonly, Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) a group of man-made chemicals are used in a variety of products, including waterproofing and stain-resistant coatings on textiles and are persistent in the environment and can accumulate in the food chain, leading to potential health risks for humans and wildlife.
What are biodegradable coatings, and how does it work?
Biodegradable coatings are made from natural materials that can break down over time and do not harm the environment. By using these coatings on outdoor clothing, it is possible to reduce the shedding of microplastics particularly in the great outdoors in areas of natural beauty.
The use of biodegradable coatings in outdoor clothing is not a new concept. Many companies have begun to incorporate these coatings into their products such as Patagonia, a well-known outdoor clothing brand, that uses biodegradable water repellent coating called DWR (durable water repellent) in some of its waterproof products. This coating is made from a plant-based material called Teflon EcoElite, which claims to be biodegradable and highly effective at repelling water.
What’s the solution
If you’re looking to advance your research to develop a high-performance coating for your outdoor product, we can support you in your R&D activities, and ultimately test the end product to ensure the material biodegrades in an outdoor environment safely following the PAS 9017 standard for open air terrestrial environments. Analytical testing can also be conducted within our independent laboratory to identify if there is PFC’s in your product.
