Columbia presents eco-friendly jacket
21/06/2016
The company’s Performance Innovation Team (PIT) has been developing the jacket since 2014 when it managed to create a “durable waterproof membrane” that doesn’t require an outer layer treated with a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coating to maintain its performance. Columbia also uses no PCFs in the membrane and so there is no intentional use of them in the OutDry EX ECO shell.
The jacket is made from 100% recycled polyester, which comes from approximately 21 recycled plastic bottles. The fabric used to create it is not dyed, a step that Columbia says saves 13.5 gallons (51L) of water. This is an 80% saving compared to a standard fabric that is dyed. The product is Bluesign certified, meaning it meets the highest level of consumer safety and has been made in a way that impacts as little as possible on people and the environment.
To further save water, the surface of the jacket is manufactured so that it can be wiped clean, this reducing the need for washing. In line with Columbia’s ReThreads programme, the jacket can be donated back to the company at the end of its life to be processed for a “second life”.
Image courtesy of Columbia.
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