After four years of development, PrimaLoft this week introduced PrimaLoft Bio, the first synthetic insulation made from 100% recycled, biodegradable fibers, said the company. In accelerated test conditions simulating a landfill environment (ASTM D5511), PrimaLoft Bio fibers have reached near complete biodegradation in 394 days, a highly accelerated rate as compared to the negligible degradation observed in standard polyester, under the same conditions.
This proprietary technology does not change the performance, look or feel of the garment, said PrimaLoft, and is expected to be available to consumers in fall 2020. PrimaLoft Bio fibers break down when exposed to the right environment – such as a landfill or the ocean. PrimaLoft has enhanced the fibers to be more attractive to the naturally-occurring microbes found in these environments. The microbes eat away at the fibers at a faster rate, returning the insulation to nature. The biodegradation process leaves behind water, methane, carbon dioxide and biomass (expired microorganisms, organic waste).
PrimaLoft Bio insulation will only biodegrade when exposed to the microbes in landfills or bodies of water, thus, the insulation remains highly durable throughout its usable life cycle in a garment, said the company.
“We looked at the global issues, including the proliferation of textile waste and microplastics, and determined how PrimaLoft could make a positive impact within our core competencies – material science and polymers,” said Mike Joyce, president and CEO of PrimaLoft. “This technology, the most significant global technology launch in the company’s history, provides a solution at the material level, which was key for our vision.”
“PrimaLoft Bio has the potential to transform the outdoor and fashion/lifestyle industries’ supply chain,” said Dr. Charles Lancelot, a materials technologist who worked alongside PrimaLoft during the testing process.
“Over 80% of discarded textile and garment wastes were landfilled in 2014, accounting for nearly 8% of the total waste. This advanced biodegradation technology from PrimaLoft leverages progressive end-of-life material science and demands the attention of every apparel brand interested in making a smaller environmental footprint. PrimaLoft Bio is a leader in its potential conversion to energy-producing biogas during the active production lifetimes of most US landfills, and it is setting a new industry standard for synthetic insulation.”
To date, PrimaLoft has saved more than 84.7 million plastic bottles from landfills, and transformed them into premium insulation technologies. By 2020, 90% of PrimaLoft insulation products will have at least 50% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content.
