Interview with Simon Herriott

Over its 212-year history, DuPont has been a leader in the development of textiles and advanced materials. The company developed rayon, nylon, Lycra and other household textiles, along with other protective materials such as Kevlar, Teflon and Tyvek, that keeps our first responders and military safe. In recent years, we developed a new fibre called Sorona, a versatile fibre that offers unparalleled performance, cost effectiveness, and sustainability to the textiles market. DuPont Sorona, a renewably-sourced fibre, is a proof of our commitment to create innovative solutions that help reduce dependence on fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A breakthrough addition to biopolymer solutions, Sorona allows mills and designers to combine the benefit of renewability without sacrificing the need for a versatile material that offers high performance and design freedom across applications.

Sorona has been adopted worldwide in its key segments. Sorona's softness, stain resistance and lower environmental footprint have made it a preferred choice in high-quality residential carpets in the major regional carpet markets of North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. In the interconnected worldwide apparel markets, Sorona has been chosen by leading brands for its gentle stretch, soft hand-feel, and reduced footprint for sale in markets all over the globe.

Sustainability is at the core of what we do - from creating market-facing, sustainable solutions to addressing the global challenges of the future. Feeding the world, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting people and the environment are some of the world's toughest problems that require long-term thinking and science-driven innovation. DuPont's 10,000 scientists and engineers are working with academia, governments, other companies and non-governmental organisations around the world to solve these challenges. Sorona is an excellent example of how DuPont is leading the transition from fossil fuels to renewable resources. Sorona contains 37 per cent renewable plant-based ingredients by weight (28 per cent bio-based carbon). It has a remarkably small environmental footprint: producing Sorona uses 30 per cent less energy and releases 63 per cent fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to the production of nylon 6, which is made from fossil fuels. Compared to nylon 6,6, Sorona production uses 40 per cent less energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 56 per cent. From polymer production to extrusion at lower temperatures, to lower dyeing temperatures, to easy care for consumers, Sorona provides sustainability benefits throughout the value chain. DuPont has made it possible for apparel designers, mills and manufacturers to produce sustainable clothing that consumers want with the performance benefits they demand.

As Fibre2Fashion reported, DuPont recently partnered with Vipul Sarees, a leader in the Indian saree market, to use the Sorona fibre to make soft and colourful sarees in chiffon, georgette, satin and crepe materials that rival the luxurious feel of silk. DuPont won the 2015 Breakthrough Bio-Based Technology Platform Award at the World Biomarkets Conference for this partnership, honouring our commitment to biomaterials and renewably sourced technologies. We look forward to continued innovation in the years ahead.