More clarity needed around biodegradable textiles
04/12/2019
“People ask me to find fabric for a biodegradable outerwear jacket, but it’s not possible,” he said. “Especially at consumer level, they expect products to behave like a banana and disappear in the soil after a short period of time.
“Companies aren’t using the terms to trick people, but it’s just the preconceptions that we have. There is no strict definition, and that is the problem, in many cases.”
One of CLASS’s materials is Roica by Asahi Kasei, which holds Cradle to Cradle certification and is made with more than 50% recycled content. It passed the Hohenstein Environment Compatibility Certificate which means it breaks down without releasing harmful substances.
“A CLASS we believe the ecotoxicity is important because we want to know that when it does degrade, it does so safely, without damaging the soil or releasing any harmful gas.
“Even with natural fibres, people think that’s because it’s cotton it’s biodegrade, but they don’t factor in any oils, dyes and finishes that are added. Everything needs to be tested. Sustainability means measurements, not just talking.”
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