Many of our favorite products – from jackets to bedding to wipes – are made from materials that can shed microfibers. No matter how high quality the product, this can occur during washing, normal wear-and-tear and eventual end of life. These products and microfibers often end up polluting environments like our waterways, oceans and landfills. Products made with PrimaLoft® Bio™ fibers have been specifically developed to return to materials found in nature, in an effort to reduce the environmental impact of microfibers and garments throughout their life.
Performance
PrimaLoft® Bio™ brings a new approach to sustainability without compromising our industry-leading performance and comfort throughout the life cycle of the garment. This innovation lies within the makeup of the fibers.
Sustainability
PrimaLoft® Bio™ represents a holistic solution for every step of a product’s continued journey.
Appetizing fibers.
PrimaLoft® Bio™ fibers break down at a highly-accelerated rate in landfills, oceans and wastewater because we’ve optimized them to be more appetizing to the naturally-occurring microbes in these specific environments.
Left behind.
These microbes enable synthetic insulation and fabric to return to materials found in nature, leaving behind components like water, CO2, methane, biomass and humus – a common, natural component of potting soil.
And neither does nature. PrimaLoft® Bio™ has been tested on 40 fibers and fabrics in more than 200 independent tests, and we continuously update the test results as new information becomes available. You will always find our latest result right here.
YES! PrimaLoft® Bio™ is already available from several locations worldwide, both virgin and recycled from a controlled supply chain. There is full capacity and delivery guarantee. And that’s why we can start fixing polyester right now.
Before initiating full production, a sample is sent to 3rd party lab for an accelerated test that measures the initial behavior of the fiber. After the QC test for up to 90 days, we can verify that the technology works, and the staple fibers are approved.
A long range of well-known brands within outdoor garments have already implemented PrimaLoft® Bio™ in their fabrics and insulation, from Jack Wolfskin, Maloja and Katmandu to 4F and Icebug.
PrimaLoft® Bio™ can be added toany type of polyester and fabric fiber, from wadding, filtration, and automotive to acoustics, medical, and hygiene products.
No, PrimaLoft® Bio™ only biodegrades in environments with naturally occurring microbes, such as landfills, oceans, and wastewater. PrimaLoft® Bio™ comes in normal bales and has a normal shelf life with no need for special care or treatment during storage and transportation.
Yes, we are already commercial with BICO (low melting fibers), solid, and hollow fibers – and have no capacity issues.
No, PrimaLoft® Bio™ has the same characteristics and performance as regular PET fibers with the same output and same whiteness, and it blends well with natural fibers.
Again, it’s a no. PrimaLoft® Bio™ fibers in products do not biodegrade during usage. Only microplastics that leave products ending up in landfills or oceans will biodegrade, so there really is no special care required.
Polyester is a polymer, and therefore the end product could be considered as a “plastic”. This means that different measures from Single-Use Plastic Directive can be applied to your product.
Yes, PrimaLoft® Bio™ can be chemically recycled and fits perfectly in a circular lifespan, and PrimaLoft® Bio™ maintain a 95% yield rate through the chemical recycling process.
Polyester is a complex molecule that naturally occuring microbes have a hard time digesting, why standard polyester does not biodegrade. PrimaLoft® BioTM optimizes the polyester or fabric fiber with a simple sugar, making the fibers easier and more pleasant for microbes to digest. Essentially, we make your fiber a Boston Cream Donut for microbes.
