DuPont, Unifi create renewably sourced insulation

12 Oct '17

3 min read

Courtesy: DuPont Sorona

DuPont Industrial Biosciences is collaborating with Unifi to create high-performance, renewably sourced garment insulation, offering apparel brands a sustainable choice for cold-weather products. The partnership combines DuPont Sorona polymer and Unifi REPREVE to produce insulation that is uniquely soft and extremely durable, with excellent shape retention.

DuPont Sorona is made from 37 per cent renewable plant-based ingredients, using 30 per cent less energy with 63 per cent fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as compared to Nylon 6. The exceptional softness, inherent stain resistance and uncompromising durability of Sorona offers customers in a wide range of industries a more sustainable, high-performance materials option. The polymer has been used in everything from carpeting to Indian sarees.

REPREVE is a high-quality fibre containing recycled materials, including plastic water bottles. Unifi’s proprietary process turns plastic bottles into certified fibre, which is then used in thousands of different fabrics and products available globally.

“The combination of Sorona and REPREVE provides brands the opportunity to use a high-performance, durable insulation that dries quickly and keeps its shape even after washing,” said Michael Saltzberg, global business director for Biomaterials at DuPont. “The new insulation’s unique warmth and durability will bring customers streamlined outerwear, made from eco-friendly materials, while maintaining maximum warmth and breathability.

Unifi has a 45-year heritage as a textile solution provider driven by manufacturing innovation and creating differentiation for its customers. The company continues to build on its success by expanding its offering of branded recycled performance fibres that provide functional benefits, added comfort and aesthetic advantages. Unifi spent more than three years developing REPREVE with quality and performance as the primary goal – and recycled as the added benefit.

DuPont has a rich and deep history in the textile market, with inventions that include fibres such as nylon, Lycra, Kevlar and rayon – the world's first man-made fibre. More recently, in addition to Sorona, DuPont’s biomaterials group has focused its innovations on creating other high-performing, sustainably sourced materials – the building blocks of products that consumers use every day.

“This collaboration will give customers the freedom to choose a new type of garment insulation – one that is better for the environment without compromising performance,” said Ning Hongjun, president Unifi Asia Pacific. “With our expertise in recycled polyester staple fibre and DuPont Industrial Biosciences’ industry-leading Sorona, we look forward to seeing this breakthrough technology be widely adopted by leading brands.”

DuPont’s industry-leading excellence in the biomaterials industry has received a number of accolades over the past year, including the Platts Global Energy “Breakthrough Solution of the Year” award for a partnership with ADM on a novel process to produce FDME from fructose; Frost & Sullivan’s award for 2017 European Company of the Year Award for bio-based materials; and, most recently, PLASTICS’ 2017 Innovation in Bioplastics Award. (SV)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India

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