Jack Wolfskin steps up plans to remove fluorine chemicals

Until now, PFCs were almost irreplaceable in guaranteeing protection against water, oil and dirt. And yet the Idstein-based outdoor specialists have announced that half of the apparel collection will already be PFC-free by winter 2014, two years earlier than originally planned.

“We have distinguished ourselves as the first outdoor company with a concrete roadmap until 2020, outlining our plans to move away from fluorine chemicals, ban harmful substances from the supply chain and ensure transparent manufacture among our suppliers. And we are working purposefully towards this goal”, said Christian Brandt, Chief Operating Officer at Jack Wolfskin.

“We have taken the first step by banning PFOA from the production process by summer 2014. In addition, we will also be successively replacing products containing PFCs from our collection from winter 2014. We were not surprised to learn that Greenpeace found PFCs in the jackets they tested, as both models were most likely produced in early 2013. As we have no control over the length of time our products are traded, there will still be products available during the interim period which contain PFOA.

“This aside, products are completely safe for our customers and fulfil the strict requirements stipulated in the comprehensive list of harmful chemicals (GreenBook). According to Greenpeace, the use of these chemicals is predominately a problem in the countries of production. We are in full agreement with them on this matter and are working hard to address this issue.”

At the worldwide renowned sportswear trade fair ISPO in Munich in January, Jack Wolfskin will be presenting an apparel collection for autumn/winter 2014, whereby almost half of the articles will have been produced without PFCs. Jack Wolfskin’s original plan was to only produce the Travel collection in winter without the use of fluorine chemicals. Yet, Jack Wolfskin has been able to adapt more fabrics in the autumn/winter 2014 collection earlier than originally planned and is therefore well ahead of schedule.

By publishing a detailed plan of action in the spring under the motto, “Going the extra mile”, Jack Wolfskin has cemented its status as an industry pioneer in the environmentally friendly management of chemicals. In extending its current responsibility for the product to include comprehensive responsibility for its production, Jack Wolfskin has made a commitment to transparency with regard to its manufacturers throughout the supply chain.

Promoting the motto "Going the extra mile", the company aims to avoid harmful substances, including APEOs and phthalates, from the production process, as well as removing any flourine chemicals by 2020. Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht and Fresenius University of Applied Sciences are collaborating with Jack Wolfskin in order to achieve these goals through fundamental research as well as research into applications.

Jack Wolfskin