Following the brand’s first sustainability report, performance fabric supplier Pertex has set a range of targets to minimise the environmental impact of its products and business practices. The company intends to replace virgin raw materials with materials from recycled waste streams, wherever possible, reduce energy and water consumption, and eliminate the use of potentially harmful chemicals.

Specific targets for 2020, which will be announced in more detail at November’s Performance Days functional fabric fair in Munich, include the following:

- 80% of fabrics produced will contain a minimum of 50% recycled content. Currently, the Pertex Eco range contain 50% to 100% recycled content.

- 100% of fabrics produced will use non-fluorinated DWR finishes. 

- Introduce solution-dyed products. Solution dying, Pertex says, uses up to 60% less water than conventional bath dying and reduces CO2 emissions by up to 50%.

The company emphasises that these targets won’t affect performance or innovation, citing the superlight 10 denier Pertex Quantum and YFuse fabrics made from recycled materials as examples of successfully-developed sustainable products.