HeiQ, Patagonia partner for sustainable technology

Swiss textile technology innovator HeiQ and sustainable outdoor clothing brand Patagonia have joined hands for a strategic research partnership to explore novel ways for sustainable textile finishing technology to obtain breathable and durable water repellence (DWR) with best-in-class performances. The aim is to reduce the proliferation of toxic chemistries.

Recently awarded the Accenture Strategy Award for Circular Economy Multinational among 230 applicants at the World Economic Forum in Davos (Switzerland) in recognition of its accomplishment in reducing waste in its production processes and products, for decades, Patagonia has been working towards building high-performance products with the vision to a greener and more sustainable future.

"Shattering the status quo for DWR is of paramount importance to Patagonia. However, we will not be successful unless we also achieve the quality and performance that our customers demand, a calculated partnership is a key means of doing so," said Matt Dwyer, director of material innovation and development at Patagonia. "HeiQ is a natural partner in its ability to conduct world class research while commercializing high performing, sustainable textile finishes."

"Patagonia and HeiQ share the same vision that technology can perfect our everyday textile products," said Colin Lantz, vice president of HeiQ Brandforce.

Following recent human health and environmental studies quantifying the hazardous impacts of perfluorinated chemistries (PFCs), some brands in the outdoor industry have begun to switch to currently available first-generation non-fluorinated DWRs. Among HeiQ's product portfolio, there are already several industry-leading fluorine-free DWR technologies, including HeiQ's enormously successful HeiQ Eco Dry product. HeiQ's current product, HeiQ Eco Dry is among the most effective non-PFC water repellent textile technologies on market, capable of achieving water repellency performance identical to or better than PFC C6 levels.

"At HeiQ we have worked towards non-pfc DWR technology for over five years. This project aims to realise an improved non-pfc DWR technology and achieve a new level of performance in this field," said Dr Murray Height, co-founder and chief technology officer of the HeiQ Group.