Schoeller Introduces Pro Earth Biodegradable Textiles

The amount of waste generated and natural resources the textile industry uses is coming under scrutiny, as change is on the way in providing a more efficient delivery and production processes. One of the growth areas is biodegradable textiles, that don’t just biodegrade but also offer high level performance.

Schoeller’s new Pro Earth collection of biodegradable textiles is comprised of bluesign approved fabrics with biodegradable polyester, will debut as part of its Schoeller FTC (SFTC) line, a joint venture between Schoeller Textil AG and Formosa Co. Ltd, a leading Taiwanese textile ingredient supplier.

A founding developer of the bluesign system, the first activewear and leisurewear manufacturer to receive Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification, and one of the first companies to sign the UN’s Paris Agreement for climate change, Schoeller continues to be on the cutting edge of sustainable practices, bringing one of the first collections of biodegradable synthetic fabrics to the market.

Its most recent development, Pro Earth was created to help offset the more than 16 million tons of textile waste produced, and that is just in the US alone each year.

The SFTC Pro Earth collection will launch with five, bluesign-approved fabrics designed for lifestyle, fashion and outdoor categories.

Made with virgin polyester that has been optimized for biodegradation and has tested to biodegrade at faster and better rates than competitive offerings, the initial Pro Earth articles available this fall include jacket, pant and lining material qualities with various colour options.

"Our SFTC Pro Earth collection was a natural progression in Schoeller’s visionary advances around sustainability, while we are also striving to make a difference in an industry that continues to be so demanding on our environment," said Christine Hübner, Schoeller CRO.

"After much testing and development, we are truly excited to introduce this collection that is not only friendly to our planet but also high-quality, luxurious product that consumers of all sorts will love to wear."
 

Each of the Pro Earth fabrics can be enhanced with Schoeller’s eco-friendly production and finishing technology options offered to customers.

Its ecodye technology saves up to 30 percent of the water, energy and process time used for dyeing polyester, while its ecorepel Bio and 3XDRY Bio technologies are PFC-free and based on renewable primary products, providing reliable water and aqueous dirt repellence.