OrganoClicks pairs with Chang-Ho for ‘greenest’ fabric
30/01/2014
Robin Grankvist, business manager at OrganoClick, said: “In principle, all textile production takes place in Asia, so it has been extremely important for us to find the right partner there. Chang-Ho is the perfect launch partner, as the company’s innovative position and drive to constantly develop new fabrics and more environmentally friendly processes dovetails perfectly with our vision.”
The first OrganoTex-treated fabric to be launched by Chang-Ho Fibre is a 100% recycled polyester fabric manufactured with green PET bottles collected by volunteers at one of Asia’s largest charity organisations. The fabric retains the green colour from the bottles and has been selected as one of the most exciting textile breakthroughs at sports trade fair ISPO Munich. “The fabric is perhaps the world’s greenest functional fabric – literally,” said Mr Grankvist.
OrganoClick’s process is based on what the company calls “organo-catalytic click chemistry”, a method that bonds alkyl-functionalized polymers to a substrate. “Alkyls are long-chain carbon and hydrogen molecules, which are hydrophobic. In our process, a strong covalent bond attaches the finish to the fibre in a 3D pattern, which lowers surface tension. It repels water but is not oleophobic,” said Mr Grankvist. The treatment is applied using conventional techniques, padding and curing, while energy and water consumption is also similar to usual processing.
OrganoTex is said to withstand 20 washes, “which is usually sufficient for outdoor apparel,” said Mr Grankvist, adding that “consumers need to start washing less frequent and at lower temperatures, for the sake of the environment”.
“Selecting OrganoTex as a fluorocarbon-free water-repellent textile treatment was an obvious choice for us, as this technology is biodegradable and is not harmful, in accordance with the European REACH regulations,” said Mark Chen, business manager at Chang-Ho.
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