W.L. Gore & Associates announced it has become one of the first makers of Durable Water Repellence (DWR) treatments such as Gore-Tex, to eliminate perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) from all raw materials used in the manufacturing of weatherproof functional fabrics.
The maker of Gore-Tex said this affects all membranes and DWR (Durable Water Repellency) treatments for the entire range of fabrics used in finished products in categories, including mountaineering, running, cycling, fashion and lifestyle garments, footwear for outdoor sports and casual wear, and work wear for fire and police services. Gore is one of the first companies in the sector to successfully changeover to PFOA-free raw materials for its entire range of textiles.
PFOA has been detected in the raw materials used in industries such as carpet making, automotive, food packaging and outdoor sectors. PFOA has recently been added to the List of Substances of Very High Concern of the European Union REACH regulation, which is currently working on a set of directives.
“Gore has been actively pursuing an environmental program for nearly 30 years,” said Bernhard Kiehl, leader of the Gore Fabrics Division sustainability team. “Gore’s strong focus over the years on Life Cycle Assessment has shown that the single most effective means of reducing the environmental impact of a product is to maximize its lifetime. Durable performance is indispensable if functional jackets and footwear are expected to last. For this reason, it was important to us to eliminate PFOA from our raw materials without compromising the performance people have come to expect from our products.”
Ten years ago Gore Fabrics progressively started to eliminate PFOA from its products. In 2011, it upgraded its durable water repellency (DWR) treatment for its consumer fabrics to more environmentally friendly alternatives. The process of eliminating PFOA from its products was completed by the end of 2013.
Gore products already conform with the the OEKO-Tex Standard 100, which since 1992 has tested fabrics to ensure that they do not pose a health risk according to the requirements laid down by statutory regulations. Since 2010, the Gore Fabrics Division has been a system partner of Bluesign Technologies, meaning that Gore has introduced the Bluesign standard to all its garment manufacturing plants worldwide. In addition to rigorously regulating the use of chemicals in products, the Bluesign system also limits emissions to water, air and land and has stringent guidelines concerning the health and safety of employees and the protection of the environment along the entire supply chain.
Bluesign certification does not only mean that the Bluesign requirements are met in Gore’s own manufacturing processes, it means that Gore’s fabric suppliers also meet these requirements. Since autumn/winter 2013/14, over 50 percent of the total volume of consumer laminates produced by Gore has been certified in accordance with this strict standard. “We work very closely with our suppliers to continue to increase the number of Bluesign certified products,” points out Kiehl.
