PrimaLoft, Inc., known as experts in advanced material technology, announced its PrimaLoft™ Bio® fibers are now thriving to be renewable in a circular economy. On top of that PrimaLoft has been working on biodegradability.

Polyester can be recycled in several ways and the chemical recycling process breaks down polyester to its basic components so that it can be rejuvenated into a new high-performance material, without compromising its original integrity.

Through the chemical recycling process polyester itself can engage in  several product lifecycles. However some fibers and particles still end up in nature through abbreviation during washing and drying. Biodegradability would be a solution to the growing problem of polluted waterways and oceans.

Within the circular economy concept materials can flow in two different cycles: The biological and the technical cycle. With this product Polyester is moving from a technical cycle (chemical recycling) into the biological cycle (biodegradability).

PrimaLoft is the first brand to introduce biodegradability* in synthetic insulation and fabric that supports circularity by being 100% recycled.

Test have proven 93,8% biodegradation in 646 days under ASTM D5511 conditions (landfill environment), this means 93,8 % are water, methane and CO2, where as the remaining 6,2% stay as biomass.

The tests in marine/ocean environment are still running, the status quo of the latest update was 65,5% biodegradation in 639 days under ASTM D6691 conditions (marine/ ocean environment). These figures change constantly but the stated rate and extend of degradation do not mean that the product will continue to degrade. The degradation rate usually slows down with ongoing time.

The rest stays in the environment, like all non biodegradable polyester. But every % of plastic which degrades, means less plastic in the environment. With this development PrimaLoft pioneers a conscious action against plastic contamination in nature.

“The intention of PrimaLoft® Bio™ was always to address the eventual end of life of a garment in an impactful way, while finding a solution for the industry-wide microplastics issue,” said PrimaLoft president and CEO Mike Joyce.

Third-party testing has shown that PrimaLoft® Bio™ fibers can be chemically recycled with a 95% yield rate. The remaining 5% are the common rate of wate consisting of additives, but also dyestuffs that come from other products, as recycling processes happen in industry facilities.

After chemical recycling, PrimaLoft® Bio™ fibers may be reused to produce new insulation or fibers, while maintaining the same level of performance. Circularity, or a circular economy, is an economic system aimed at minimizing waste and re-capturing usable resources to be utilized within the system. This eliminates the need to introduce new natural resources, creating a closed loop. A circular economy is a more sustainable alternative to a traditional linear economy, which relies on the “take, make, dispose” model of utilizing resources.

About PrimaLoft, Inc.: PrimaLoft, Inc., an advanced material technology company based in Latham, New York with offices in Munich, Germany and Xiamen, China, is the world leader in research and innovative development of comfort solutions with high performance insulations and fabrics. The PrimaLoft® brand, a registered trademark of PrimaLoft, Inc., delivers feel-good products that are used in the top global outdoor and fashion brands, home furnishings, work wear, hunting and military applications. PrimaLoft® insulation was originally developed for the U.S. army as a water-resistant, synthetic alternative to down. Today, the brand is recognized as a benchmark in the outdoor industry for providing unsurpassed comfort in any condition, ultimately empowering users to stay in the moment. PrimaLoft, Inc. is active in sustainable textile production through partnerships with the bluesign® system, the International OEKO-TEX® Association, the Sustainable Apparel Coalition’s Higg Index and the Global Recycled Standard.

http://www.primaloft.com/