Certified Sorona® fabrics guarantee performance and sustainability
Sorona® Introduces Preferred Mill Network
Just one-year after the successful debut of its Common Thread Fabric Certification Program, Sorona® is introducing the Preferred Mill Network. Already boasting more than 350 certified mills worldwide, the network of partner mills is collaborating with Sorona® to answer the global call for sustainable performance fabrics and supply chain transparency.
In a recent survey, from McKinsey & Co about the priority for sourcing at scale, “Sustainability and Transparency” was ranked #1 by over half of all executive respondents.
“Even before the pandemic, we saw an increased demand for traceability and transparency throughout the value chain,” says Global Brand & Communications Leader Alexa Raab. “That’s what gave us the confidence to launch the Common Thread Fabric Certification at the start of Q2 2020 and move forward with the Preferred Mill Network now.”The Preferred Mill Network is certified to offer a collection of up to five subbranded fabric types—Agile, Aura, Luxe, Profile, Revive—each rigorously tested for a minimum amount of bio-based content and for strict performance requirements.
“To be truly sustainable, we believe any biomaterial must not only be accessible and scalable, but meet or exceed performance expectations of the incumbent product,” says Raab. With its superior shape recovery, breathability, ultraviolet protection, and long-lasting fit retention, fabrics made with Sorona® are made to last. Once the garment has reached its end of life, Sorona® is also recyclable, meaning it will be a key player in the successful transition to a circular economy.
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Sorona® uses 30-40% less energy and releases 56-63% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than the production of nylon 6 or nylon 6,6
Made from 37 percent plant-based materials, Sorona® is a high-performance fiber and a key ingredient in clothing from some of the world’s most popular and most sustainable brands.
“The fundamental process to make bio-propanediol (Bio-PDO) from industrial dent corn is the same fermentation process that is used to make beer and the entire process from corn harvesting to Sorona® production is carried out in the U.S.,” says DuPont Biomaterials Product & Global Application Development Principle Investigator Samit Chevli. This means the production of Sorona® uses 30-40% less energy and releases 56-63% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than the production of nylon 6 or nylon 6,6.
More than 43.7 million garments worldwide are made with a certified Sorona® fabric and among those, the most common fabric type is Sorona Agile, made for athleisure and activewear.
“It’s encouraging to see so many partners committed to raising awareness of biomaterials and sustainable offerings,” says Raab. “Our goal is to continue to support mills and brands as they continue to increase their sustainability efforts. Programs like Common Thread and the Preferred Mill Network are designed to make a sustainable choice reliable and simple.”
