Wood-based polyester fleece jacket will be industry first
Outdoor brand Vaude is to work with the biochemicals division of industrial group UPM to develop a fleece jacket made from wood-based polyester.
The companies have claimed this will be an industry first, adding that it will be a step towards taking performance apparel “beyond fossils”.
Resin used to make polyester for the jacket will contain 30% monoethylene glycol, which is traditionally sourced from crude oil. In the process UPM and Vaude will use, this ingredient will be entirely replaced with a bio-monoethylene glycol (BioMEG), UPM’s BioPura.
UPM Biochemicals has described BioPura as a drop-in solution that can be easily implemented into existing polyester manufacturing processes because, on a molecular basis, it is identical to the MEG in use at the moment.
Indorama Ventures will polymerise and spin the polyester yarn and fabric manufacturer Pontetorto will process the yarn into the fleece fabric that Vaude will use to produce the final garment.
