Peppermint pulls Polartec away from metal-based odour control
Specialist performance fabric developer Polartec has announced that it will now base metal-free odour resistance functionality in its fabrics on peppermint.
It said peppermint oil would offer it a renewable, sustainable and biodegradable alternative to metal-based technologies it has used previously to inhibit odour at the source. Peppermint oil is effective in inhibiting the growth of odour-causing microbes in fabric, it said.
In research and development trials, the oil was able to achieve a 99% microbial reduction, even after 50 wash cycles. In field trials with garments, Polartec rated the odour control as better than or equal to the protection offered by metal-containing treatments.
Senior product marketing manager, Karen Beattie, said the new peppermint oil-based treatment was part of a wider sustainability programme called Polartec Eco-Engineering.
IMAGE: A version of Polartec’s PowerDry fabric with peppermint-based odour protection.
CREDIT: Polartec
