Sympatex has developed its own Eco Design Guide that brand partners can design their products in a circular way. The eco-design recommendations have been implemented in a separate trade fair collection together with YKK.

The ecological footprint of a garment depends very much on the choice of material. Membrane manufacturer Sympatex is convinced of this and is therefore expanding its product portfolio every year to include laminates made from fibre2fiber recycling. Interesting for everyone, because the entire textile and outdoor industry is called upon to reduce its footprint immensely within the next few years.

At the same time, a circular economy only works if everyone participates and the implementation is complex. Companies that previously acted separately from each other must now cooperate. Sympatex continues to demonstrate that this is possible through a variety of pilot projects. In fact, the membrane manufacturer has been working for years to drive change in the industry. For example, Sympatex is explicitly dedicated to the topics of design-to-recycle, digitalization, recyclability through mono-material, the development of a product portfolio based on recycled textiles, water savings, CO2 emission reductions and the use of bio-based contents.

A versatile fiber for a circular future

“A circular economy is the most effective solution for reducing the ecological footprint, along with promoting product longevity, conscious consumption and, of course, the elimination of certain chemicals such as PFAS,” says the CEO of Sympatex Dr. Rüdiger Fox.

The company’s focus is on polyester. As a fiber, polyester has many advantages. Polyester fabrics are very durable and can be recycled in a closed-loop system. The production of polyester, especially recycled polyester, uses less water than many other fibers, and by working closely with carefully selected suppliers Sympatex ensures that production is done in the most sustainable way possible.

“We strive for innovation projects, cooperation and trend-setting collaborations that ideally accelerate our efforts towards a circular economy,” says Kim Scholze, CSMO Sympatex.

The joint pursuit of collaboration is demonstrated by Sympatex in its trade show collection with YKK. The idea is to integrate matching trims that underlines the importance of choosing the right ingredients for a sustainable garment. The process allows the brand to better understand the issues its brand partners face and find starting points in the design process to close the loop. The design underscores the importance and necessity of making decisions regarding the right materials for a sustainable garment.

Design thinking

One approach that should lead to problem solving and the development of new, innovative ideas is Design Thinking. The goal is to find solutions that are convincing from the user‘s point of view while also being market and product oriented. Sympatex offers design training for their partners. With regard to high-performance functional clothing, everyone is faced with the challenge of making the right decision between aesthetics, purpose and function, all of which are aimed in the direction of sustainability. The Sympatex “Sustainable Design Guide” is designed to help everyone to develop the most sustainable product possible with the brands waterproof and recyclable materials, combining proven principles with new approaches.

Sympatex does not aim to provide definitive answers but thought-provoking approaches, inspiration & impulses. Changing the fashion industry towards sustainability is also about changing behaviors, ideas and general perceptions about what fashion is – and what it can become.

 

Photo: michaelmuellerfotografie.com/Sympatex