February 3, 2021 Membrane Producer Closes in on Bio-based Milestone

Functional textile producer Sympatex announces it’s on track to exceed 25% bio-based material content in all its membranes by year’s end.

After several years of research, Sympatex claims that more than 25% of the raw materials used in its membrane will be converted to renewable, bio-based raw materials in the course of this year, originating from various organic waste streams. At the same time, Sympatex would ensure that the membrane not only retains its high performance values in terms of breathability as well as water- and windproofness, but also remains fully recyclable at the end of its life cycle.

In addition, DSM, Sympatex’s long-standing raw material partner, is in the process of completing its production facilities conversion to renewable electricity sources, as a result of an ongoing drive to reduce the carbon footprint of their products and operations. In this way, DSM is supporting Sympatex, as the first signatory to the UNFCCC Climate Charter for Action for the Textile Industry (now signed by over 100 brands and associations), to reach another milestone on the road to climate neutrality several years earlier than planned.

Helping brands meet their climate commitments

Sympatex brand partners also stand in line to benefit from these developments. Specifically, incorporating Sympatex membranes into their collections will help them to fulfill a major climate charter commitment – reducing CO2 emissions by 30% compared to 2015 – much faster.

One of the first brands in whose collection this milestone will be effective is Mammut, which will hit stores with a Sympatex collection in the coming winter season. The plan is to fully complete the conversion for all Sympatex membrane deliveries by the end of 2021 at the latest.

“A great achievement from Sympatex and another proof for the importance of our partnership,” said Maximilian Lenk, Chief Product Officer from Mammut in a statement.

“While our main focus remains on closing the textile loop by using our industries’ own waste streams, we will also embrace every other technically feasible opportunity to minimize our footprint by then,” said Dr. Rüdiger Fox, CEO Sympatex Technologies, who continued:

“Once again, we are seeing that constructive partnerships are moving us forward on the path to consistent sustainability much faster than we might have initially expected – and everyone in the supply chain is benefiting, from raw material partners to brands to end consumers. Above all, such a circular economic system will also help to build a new quality of trust between all partners,” Fox emphasized.