Photo : Greenpeace

Feb 2017

PFC Revolution
in the Outdoor
SectorPhoto : Greenpeace

Greenpeace expedition to Haba Snow Mountain, China, to collect water and snow samples and test them for PFC contamination.

Sounding the alarm on PFCs
Since the beginning of its Detox campaign in
2011, Greenpeace has been calling on theclothing industry to eliminate all hazardous
chemicals from its supply chain by 2020,highlighting per- and polyfluorinated chemicals(PFCs) as one of the priority hazardous
chemical groups to eliminate. PFCs are usedin many industrial processes and consumer
products, and are well known for their use by
the outdoor apparel industry in waterproof andwater-repellent finishes.
PFCs are environmentally hazardous
substances, which are persistent in theenvironment.1 Studies show that some PFCs
can accumulate in living organisms such as
the livers of polar bears in the Arctic and arealso detected in human blood.2 Animal studies
provide evidence that some PFCs cause
harm to reproduction, promote the growth oftumours and affect the hormone system.3
Starting in 2012, Greenpeace put the spotlight2

PFC Revolution in the Outdoor Sector

on the outdoor industry, with a number ofstudies which found PFCs are routinely
used in outdoor clothing, footwear andother equipment;4,5 other reports showed
the evaporation of volatile PFCs into air6 anddemonstrated significant contamination in
the indoor air of stores selling outdoor gear.7
Greenpeace also found PFC contamination
far from the original source of their release, in
secluded mountain lakes and snow from threecontinents,8 and documented the historic andongoing contamination of water, air and dust in
four locations near PFC manufacturing facilities
around the world.9
Together with Greenpeace, hundreds ofthousands of outdoor enthusiasts from aroundthe world have asked their favourite outdoor
brands to stop using hazardous PFCs in
outdoor gear. The outdoor sector has started
responding to this growing consumer demand;since 2012, when the Greenpeace campaign
first addressed the outdoor sector, there has
been a dramatic increase in the number of
PFC-free alternative technologies and products

Photo : Greenpeace

A Greenpeace Italy action at The North Face store in Milan highlights the company’s ongoing failure to eliminate PFCs from its weatherproof products.

on the market, and in the number of outdoor
brands which have set PFC elimination timelines,
as documented in the following overview.

An increase in products free fromhazardous PFCs
Many outdoor brands use PFCs for theirwaterproofing and dirt resistant properties, bothin Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coatings on
the outer layer and in waterproof membranes.
However, outdoor brands are increasingly using
PFC-free alternatives.
Smaller outdoor brands such as Paramo,
Pyua, Rotauf, Fjällräven, R’ADYS and Dannah
have led the way, and are among the firstbrands to have entire collections of functional
weatherproof clothing that are PFC-free.
The first outdoor brand to make a commitment
to Detox was the UK brand Paramo, followedby Rotauf and Vaude, the first major outdoor

brand to commit: all of Vaude’s products will
be PFC-free by 2018 with 95% of apparel in
its 2017 Summer Collection PFC-free.10 Jack
Wolfskin originally led the way with 75% of its 2015
summer apparel collection PFC-free11 and aims
for 100% of its entire collection to be PFC-freeby 2020, although it has not yet agreed a Detox
commitment with Greenpeace to eliminate ALL
hazardous chemicals by 2020.12
So far, no other major outdoor brands havecommitted to Detox, as detailed on Greenpeace’s
Detox Outdoor website13 and in Table 1 (in the
Annex); although many have public statements
and plan to eliminate PFCs these are mostly
limited to apparel only or it’s unclear whether
membranes are included. Figure 1 and Table 1
show the progress being made by these major
brands in comparison to the smaller outdoor
brands.
The information in Figure 1 is not comprehensive,
but is a snapshot of available information. Other
examples of PFC-free products on the market
include Helly Hansen,14 Berghaus15 Maier Sports,16
and the “Quintessentshell” jacket from Nau.17
PFC Revolution in the Outdoor Sector3Pre-2016

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

No DatePyua
Fjällräven
R’AdysParamo*Rotauf*Dannah
Vaude*

Jack Wolfskin
Haglöfs
Norrona

SalewaMammutBlack Yak
The North Face
Columbia**
Patagonia**
Arcteryx**

No products
PFC-freeSome products
PFC-free

Most products
PFC-freeAll products
PFC-freeFigure 1 : Outdoor brands with PFC-free products on the market and the status of theircommitments to eliminate PFCs (for details see Annex. Table 1).
Note : the positioning of the brands in this diagram does not represent a ranking: for Greenpeace’s
evaluation of the progress being made by major outdoor brands towards Detox see the Detox
Outdoors website.

4
4

PFC Revolution in the Outdoor Sector* Detox committed
brands** PFC elimination
plan but no datePhoto : Greenpeace

Greenpeace’s booth at ISPO Beijing, the leading outdoor trade fair in the Asia-Pacific region

Gore - a new era
In a recent development, the market leader in
PFC-based waterproofing technologies, Gore
Fabrics, has committed to eliminate hazardous
PFCs/PFCs of Environmental Concern
from its general outdoor waterproofing
laminates (corresponding to 85% of the
final product units costumers make fromthese laminates) by end of 2020 and from its
specialized outdoor waterproofing laminates(corresponding to 15% of the final productunits) by end of 2023.
To fulfill this commitment, Gore Fabrics
will develop new, more environmentallyfriendly technologies, for both weatherproof
membranes and water repellent coatings(DWR). Gore Fabrics will develop both
fluorine-free and fluorinated technologies inparallel. Greenpeace and Gore have agreed
on a strict set of properties that constitutea hazardous PFC (also called a PFC of

Environmental Concern),20 following thePrecautionary Principle.21 The chemicalgroup PFCs includes polymers and nonpolymeric chemicals. Non-polymeric PFCs
are hazardous or potentially hazardous
chemicals.
Until now, polymeric PFCs used in textiles
have either had the potential to degrade
into hazardous PFCs,22 or their manufacture
involved the use and release of hazardous
PFCs. For these reasons Greenpeace’s
Detox campaign called for the eliminationof all PFCs. The new process announced
by Gore Fabrics will eliminate all releases of
PFCs of environmental concern throughout
the lifecycle of their PFC polymer, including in
the manufacturing process.
Gore Fabrics will publicly document that nohazardous PFCs are released throughout
the product lifecycle (eg manufacturing
and production process, during use and

PFC Revolution in the Outdoor Sector

5disposal at end of life). For further details, Gore
Fabrics commitment, “Goal and Roadmap for
Eliminating PFCs of Environmental Concern”
can be found at www.gore-tex.com/pfcgoal

PFC - free innovations - thegrowth of alternative technologies
Since Greenpeace released its report“Chemistry for any weather” 23 in 2012 there
has been a dramatic increase in the number ofalternative technologies that do not use PFCs
available on the market, both for membranes
and for DWR finishes. Figure 2 and Table 2 (inthe Annex) show some examples of PFC-freetechnologies and the dates that they came on
the market, as far as can be ascertained fromresearching company websites. This showsa big increase in the number of technologies
released on the market in 2015 and 2016.

general there is not enough public informationon hazard assessment and evaluation of thechemicals in the alternative technology being
used; therefore the listing of any technology inthis table does not imply an endorsement.
Many of these suppliers are also working toincrease the sustainability and environmental
performance of these technologies on
many levels, including: the use of renewable
technology;24 screening of ingredients for hazard
using GreenScreen25 and the inclusion of plantbased materials;26 and aiming to “close theloop” by increasing the recycled content of thematerials used and ensuring their recyclability, as
demonstrated by Sympatex.27

Oct 2012
Greenpeace
report“Chemistry for
any weather”

The technologies listed in Figure 2 areprovided as an example and are notexhaustive; all are PFC-free, however, inMid 2015
Launch ofGreenpeace
Detox
Outdoors
Campaign

Membrane

July 2011
Launch ofGreenpeace’s
Detox My
FashionCampaign

30
26
2

25

1

15

23a

34

Durable Water Repellent (DWR)

33
32
31
30
29
28

11
10

14

21

27

20

26

19

25

18

24
23b

2

2004

2005

2006

2006

2007

3

4

2008

2009

2010

7

9

13

17

23c

35

5

6

8

12

16

22

34

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017+

Figure 2 : PFC-free waterproof technology for outdoor products on the market from 2004-2017(for details see Annex. Table 2)

6 PFC Revolution in the Outdoor Sector

Conclusion - a showcase forthe elimination of hazardous
chemicals
While many major brands have still
not taken responsibility for eliminatinghazardous PFCs in all of their products, thecommitment by Gore, the major supplierof PFC waterproofing technology, is set
to transform the sector in the longer termso that ultimately, hazardous PFCs will nolonger be used in outdoor products.

7

Photo : Greenpeace

The progress so far towards technologies
free from hazardous PFCs – though not
yet complete - shows that transforming asector can be achieved in a relatively shorttime, if the relevant stakeholders are willingto act together responsibly. Consumer
demand has driven the need for brands
to find alternatives and spurred the rapid
development of PFC-free technologies bysuppliers. It is a good example of how
consumer pressure has encouraged the
responsiveness of brands and suppliers
to develop and implement better solutions
and can be a showcase for other sectors
to achieve similar transformations. Other
industries that use PFCs, as well as thoseusing other hazardous chemicals, could
learn from this example and take on such achallenge to transform their own sector.

References
01. OECD (2013). Synthesis Paper On Per- andPolyfluorinated Chemicals (PFCs), http://www.oecd.org/
env/ehs/risk-management/PFC_FINAL-Web.pdf
02. OECD (2013). Op.cit.
03. Madrid Statement ( 2015). http://greensciencepolicy.
org/madrid-statement/; The Madrid Statement is basedon: M. Scheringer , X. Trier, I. Cousins, P. de Voogt, T.
Fletcher e, Z. Wang , T. Webster: Helsingør Statementon poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs),
Chemosphere, Volume 114, November 2014, Pages
337–339, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/
pii/S004565351400678X
04. Greenpeace e.V. (2012). Chemistry for any weather,Greenpeace tests outdoor clothes for perfluorianted toxins,
October 2012; http://www.greenpeace.org/romania/
Global/romania/detox/Chemistry%20for%20any%20
weather.pdf
05. Greenpeace (2016a), Leaving Traces; the hidden
hazardous chemicals in outdoor gear, 25 January, 2016
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/publications/Campaign-reports/Toxics-reports/Leaving-Traces/

06. Greenpeace e.V. (2013). Chemistry for any weather,
Part II, Executive Summary, December 2013; http://m.
greenpeace.org/italy/Global/italy/report/2013/toxics/
ExecSummary_Greenpeace%20Outdoor%20Report%20
2013_1.pdf
07. Greenpeace (2016b), Hidden in Plain Sight; Polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in the air of outdoor stores,
13th July 2016 http://www.greenpeace.org/international/
en/publications/Campaign-reports/Toxics-reports/Hiddenin-Plain-Sight/
08. Greenpeace (2015), Footprints in the snow, Hazardous
PFCs in remote locations around the globe http://detoxoutdoor.org/assets/uploads/Report%2520RAE/RAE_
report_08_2015_english_final.pdf
09. Greenpeace (2016c), PFC Pollution Hotspots; Howthese chemicals are entering our bodies, 14 November,
2016
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/publications/Campaign-reports/Toxics-reports/PFC-Pollution-Hotspots/
10. http://csr-report.vaude.com/gri-en/product/waterrepellent-materials.php
11. http://www.jack-wolfskin.co.uk/pfc/ PFC free, waterrepellent products are labelled with the ‘100% fluorocarbon
free’)
12. Greenpeace is calling on all major outdoor brands tomake a commitment to Detox. In a Detox Commitment
brands take responsibility for their contribution to pollution
from hazardous chemicals and make a comprehensive
commitment and action plan to eliminate hazardous
chemicals by 2020. PFCs are one of the 11 priority
chemical groups highlighted. See http://www.greenpeace.
org/international/en/campaigns/detox/fashion/detoxcatwalk/
13. http://www.detox-outdoor.org/en/

8

PFC Revolution in the Outdoor Sector

14. Helly Hansen has a small selection of PFC-free
DWR in its outdoor products and reports that it has“successfully avoided the use of PFCs in our waterproof/ breathable membranes, which are 100% polyurethanebased since 2007” https://www.hellyhansen.com/aboutus/manufacturing/
15. Berghaus states that it brought some PFC-free
options to the market in 2016. http://www.berghaus.
com/chemicals.html
16. Maier Sports launched a range of PFC-free jackets
in 2014 and aims to eliminate PFCs from its textile
production process by 2020 http://www.maier-sports.
com/en/responsibility/pfc-free-equipment/
17. http://www.snewsnet.com/news/not-green-enough/18. http://www.detox-outdoor.org/en/
19. Buck, R.C. et al. (2011) Perfluoroalkyl andPolyfluoroalkyl Substances in the Environment:
Terminology, Classification, and Origins. Integrated
Environmental Assessment and Management 7(4):513–541
20. See Annex 1 of Gore’s commitment http://www.goretex.com/pfcgoal
21. This means taking preventive action before waiting
for conclusive scientific proof regarding cause and effectbetween the substance (or activity) and the damage.
It is based on the assumption that some hazardous
substances cannot be rendered harmless by thereceiving environment (i.e. there are no ‘environmentally
acceptable’/ ’safe’ use or discharge levels) and thatprevention of potentially serious or irreversible damageis required, even in the absence of full scientific certainty.
The process of applying the Precautionary Principle must
involve an examination of the full range of alternatives,
including, where necessary, substitution through thedevelopment of sustainable alternatives where they do
not already exist.
22. For example, non-polymeric fluorosurfactant used in
the manufacture of PTFE
23. Greenpeace e.V. (2012), op.cit.
24. See for example Porelle: http://www.
porellemembranes.co.uk/en/about/environmental/
25. GreenScreen is an example of a credible andtransparent screening methodology. An example ofbest practice is to endorse all hazardous chemicals
derived from a GreenScreen full assessment, at least
all Benchmark 1/Benchmark 2 - or derived from theGreenScreen List translator, all LT-1 . See GreenScreen®
For Safer Chemicals, and http://greenscreenchemicals.
org/ and http://www.greenscreenchemicals.org/
resources/entry/list-translator
26. See for example Beyond Surface Technologies:
http://www.beyondst.com/bst-about
27. Sympatex Press Release 6th September
2016; “ Sympatex takes the next consistent stepof the sustainability strategy with 100% recycled
membrane”and “ ISPO 2017: Sympatex to launch first
100% CO2-neutral membrane” http://www.sympatex.
com/en/information/145/pressAnnex
Table 1: Outdoor brands with PFC-free products on themarket and the status of their PFC elimination timelines
Outdoor Brand

Pyua
http://www.pyua.de/index.
php/about-pyua/climalooptmlaminat

Using PFCs

PFC-freeproducts onmarketDate

DWR &membrane/ or DWR
only, otherconcerns

Detox
Commitment

PFC
elimination
timeline

Further
details----

Labelling

No

Whole
collection

Fjällräven
http://www.fjallraven.
com/responsibility/natureenvironment/free-fromfluorocarbons

No

Whole
collection

Pre-2016

DWR &membrane

-

-

-

No
information

R’ADYS
http://www.radys.com/site/
company-4563/story-4712/

No

Whole
collection

Pre-2016

DWR &membrane---

Barrier ECO

No

Whole
collection

Pre-2016

DWR &membraneYes-

All products

Analogy
Waterproof
by Nikwax

No

Whole
collection

Pre-2016

DWR &membraneYes-

All productsNo
information

No

Whole
collection

November
2016

DWR &
membrane

-

-

-

41%
50%
95%
All
percentages
refer towaterproof
apparelproducts
only

2015
2016
2017

PFC-free by
2018

Vaude aims
to eliminate
any PFCs
used in any
products byend of 2018.

Paramohttp://www.paramo-clothing.
com/blog/en-gb/paramodetox-commitment-outline/

Rotaufhttps://rotauf.ch/gbp_en/
detox

Dannahhttp://www.dannah.uk.com/
about/eco/
http://www.dannah.uk.com/
products/mens-alpine-jacket/

Vaude
http://csr-report.vaude.com/
gri-en/product/water-repellent-materials.php
http://csr-report.vaude.com/
gri-wAssets/pdf/en/VAUDEGreenpeaceDetoxCommitmentFINAL.pdf

Jack Wolfskin
http://www.jack-wolfskin.
co.uk/pfc/
https://www.jack-wolfskin.
com/2014-06-24-Fluorchemie.
html

Haglöfs
http://www.haglofs.com/se/
en/gp-detox-campaign-response
http://www.haglofs.com/se/en/
chemicals-treatments

Yes

Yes

75% ofapparelYes

Large part ofclothing line
PFC-freePre-2016

DWR &membrane

DWR &membrane

Yes

2015

DWR &
membrane

No – fallingshort
A leader 3
years ago but
now needs
to catch
up with thefrontrunners

Pre-2016

Described as“completely
fluorocarbon
free”

No – fallingshort

PFC-free by
2020

Entirecollection

PFC-free by
2020

Apparel only,
unclear if goal
is for DWR
only

CLIMALOOP

Porelle Dry

PFC-freeproducts
are labelled“Eco Finish”

all PFC-free,waterrepellent
products
are labelled‘100%
fluorocarbon
free’

No
Information

PFC Revolution in the Outdoor Sector

9Outdoor Brand

Salewahttp://www.salewa.ch/it/
csr-chemical-management-pfc#WHY%20HAS%20SALEWA%20NOT%20SIGNED%20
THE%20GREENPEACE%20
DETOX%20COMMITMENT

The North Face
https://www.thenorthface.co.uk/
about-us/news/chemical-responsibility.html

Mammuthttps://www.mammut.ch/INT/
en/cr/planet/pfc

Norrona
https://www.norrona.com/
en-GB/Corporate-Social-Responsibility/Products/
Elimination-of-fluorcarbons-in-our-products/

Using PFCs

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

https://www.norrona.com/
en-GB/Corporate-Social-Responsibility/

PFC-freeproducts onmarket

36%
70%

30%

DWR &
membrane

No – fallingshort

PFC-free by
2020

DWR onlyNo – fallingshort

PFC-free by
2020

Spring 2017

2018
2020
2022

11%
5%
15%
50%
75%

2015
2016
2017
2018
2019

Columbia
http://blog.columbia.com/
preview-outdry-extreme-eco/

Yes

OutDryExtreme ECO
jacketYes

No
information

Yes

No
information

PFC Revolution in the Outdoor Sector- 2016
-2017

80%
95%
100%

Yes

10

PFC
elimination
timeline

Summer2016
onwards

PFC-freepants

Arcteryx
http://www.arcteryx.com/
Article.aspx?country=it&language=de&article=PFC-in-outdoor-products

Detox
Commitment

Somelabelled PFCfree productsBlack Yak
http://www.fashionbiz.co.kr/TN/?cate=2&recom=2&idx=153610

Patagonia
http://www.patagonia.com/
blog/2015/09/our-dwr-problem-updated/

Date

DWR &
membrane/ or DWR
only, otherconcerns

DWR only;
Mammut has
its own PFCfree DRYtech
membrane
but also uses
PFC based
Gore-Tex
membranes.
Unclear if%age targets are for
all apparel oronly thoserequiringwaterproofing

DWR;
membranes
are notmentioned –though not
excluded
from goal.

2016

N/A

N/A

PFC-free by
2022

No – fallingshort

PFC-free by
end of 2020

Labelling

Apparelcollection
only; highest
performance
products are
exempted

PFC-freestyles arelabelled“Bionic
Finish ECO”

Apparel only;
limited to
DWR (unclear
if membranes
are included)

No
information

Apparel only,
timeline isfor PFC-free
DWR only,
deadlines
relate toeliminationof PFCs insupply chain– products
in stores tofollow within
2 years

PFC-freeclothinglabelled witha symbol

Appears to belimited to apparel, scopeis “eliminationof fluorocarbons”

No – fallingshort

PFC-free by
2020

Only
DWR, notmembranes.
Scope ofstatement
unclearNo – out of
the race

Statement,no dateBoth DWR &membranes
included,across all
product lines

N/A

No – out of
the race

Statement,no dateOnly
DWR, notmembranes.
Scope ofstatement
unclear

N/A

No – out of
the race

Statementthat it willcontinually
reduce, nodateApparel only;
DWR only.

DWR only

Spring 2017

No – fallingshort

Further
Details

Membrane(need for
DWR eliminated)

No
information

PFC-freeproducts
labelled “YakGreen”

OutDryExtreme
ECO

N/A

N/A

Note: the positioning of the brands in this table does not represent a ranking: forGreenpeace’s evaluation of the progress being made by major outdoor brands towards
Detox see the Detox Outdoors website http://www.detox-outdoor.org/en/

Table 2: PFC-free DWR and membrane technologies
for outdoor gear, sorted by date on the market, 2004 - 2017

Company

Technology brand
name

DWR ormembrane

Chemical basis

Date on the market

01. Sympatex
http://www.sympatex.com/en/company/202/company-profile

Arnitel (see Royal DSM)

Membrane-

From 2003 onwards

02. Nikwax/Paramo Directional Clothing
Nikwax has been produced since the 1970s

Nikwax TX.10i

DWR

EVA elastomer

2004-5

Nikwax Analogy Pump
Liner

Membrane/liner

Not stated, could be EVA
elastomer

2004-5

BIONIC-FINISH®ECO

DWR

No information

August 2008 by Lundhags,

Green Guard Tent andGear, spray on

DWR

Silicone based

Green Guard sprayon and Green Guard
wash in

DWR

PU based

Green Line Cotton
Guard

DWR

Most likely PU

Green Guard Leather(for footwear)

DWR

Combination of silane,siloxane and silicone

2011

http://www.nikwax.co.uk/en-gb/
productselector/waterproofing.php
http://www.paramo-clothing.com/en-gb/
performancetechnology/

03. Sympatex/ Rudolf GmbH
http://www.rudolf.de/en/company/customers/
http://www.rudolf.de/en/support/news/
details/durable-fluorocarbon-free-textilefinish/

04. Fibertec – GreenLine range
http://www.fibertec-waterproofing.de/green-line-en.html

2009

05. Pyua (outdoor brand)
http://www.pyua.de/index.php/aboutpyua/climalooptm-laminat

CLIMALOOP™

DWR and membrane‘proprietary laminate’(functional material) in
addition to Sympatex
membrane and Bionic Finish
Eco

06. Archroma
http://www.bpt.archroma.com/arkophob-ffr/

Arkophob® FFR

DWR

No information

2012

07. Schoeller
https://www.schoeller-textiles.com/
en/technologies/ecorepel

Ecorepel®

DWR

long paraffin chains

Launched January 2012

DWR

Hydrophobic hydrocarbon
chainsJanuary 2013 – brandconcept launched

08. Organoclick
http://www.organoclick.com/products/performance-textiles-nonwoven/

Organotex-using PFC-free
additive OC-aquasil Tex™
OC-aquasil Tex W™ for
woven/knitted fabrics
OC-aquasil Tex N™ for
non-woven material

09. Rudolf GmbH
http://www.rudolf.de/en/technology/bionic-finish-eco/

BIONIC-FINISH®ECO- includes finishingproducts ®RUCO-DRY
ECO and ®RUCO-DRY
ECO PLUS

DWR

PUR active ingredient (PUdendrimers)
Finishing products use‘comb’ polymers

LaunchJanuary 2013

10. Huntsman Textile Effects
http://www.huntsman.com/textile_effects/
Media%20Library/global/files/phobotex_brochure_LR.pdf

PHOBOTEX®

DWR

No information

March 2013

PFC Revolution in the Outdoor Sector

1111Technology brand
name

DWR ormembrane

Chemical basis

Date on the market

Barrier ECO

DWR

No information

July 2013

12. CHT/Bezema
https://www.cht.com/cht/medien.nsf/gfx/
med_MJOS-A7DHU8_4A1700/$file/CHTPress-release-ITMA-2015.pdf

ZeroF

DWR

Unknown - impregnation is
produced on a fluorine-freepolymer base2014

13. Allied Feather and Down
http://www.alliedfeather.com/news

HyperDRY ECO

DWR Down

Unknown, fluorocarbon-free

July 2014

14. Sustainable Down Source
http://www.sustainabledown.com/downtekzeropfc/

DownTek™ ZeroPFC™

DWR Down

A carbon-free DWR option,
process uses lipids, aninnovative, nature-inspired
approach

15. Royal DSM/ Toyota Tsusho
http://www.dsm.com/products/arnitel/en_
US/cases/Arnitel-for-outdoor-clothing.html

Arnitel® VT (alsoused by Sympatex
in combination with
Rudolf’s BIONIC FINISH
ECO)

Membrane

flexible thermoplastic
polyester based elastomer

July 201416. Beyond Surface Technologies
http://www.beyondst.com/midori-evopel

miDori evoPel

DWR

Unknown, feedstocks
are both bio-based andpetrochemical

On the market in 2015

17. Fibertec
http://www.innovationintextiles.com/sportsoutdoor/fibertec-presents-new-pfcfreewaterproofing-product-for-clothing/

Green Guard RT (sprayon and wash in)

DWR

Polyurethane dendrimers

March 2015

Smartrepel Hydro(Smartrepel Hydro CMD
for cellulosic fibres andblends, and Smartrepel
Hydro PM for synthetic
fibres.)DWR

No information (microencapsulated technology
uses a repelling agent andanchoring agent)

March 2015

ZELAN® R3 – the DWR
used in Chemours
Teflon EcoElite™

DWR

No information, 63% plant
based sources

April 2015

BIONIC-FINISHRUDOLF® finishes(earlier generation would
have contained fluorine)with ®RUCO-DRY ECO
PLUS

DWR

Hyper branched polymers(even more environmentallyfriendly components used),fluorine-free

September 2015

Company

11. HeiQ
http://heiq.com/technologies/heiq-eco-dry/

18. Archroma
http://textiles.archroma.com/smartrepelhydro/

19. Huntsman Textile Effects
http://www.huntsman.com/textile_effects/a/Solutions/Product%20Highlights/Chemicals/
Zelan%20R3
20. Rudolf GmbH
http://www.rudolf.de/en/support/pressreleases/details/Rruco-dry-eco-plus-onestep-ahead-with-fluorine-free-repellency/

Fluorine free hyperbranchedfunctionalised polymers

Barrier ECO-DRY (allfibres)21. HeiQ
http://heiq.com/technologies/heiq-eco-dry/

Barrier ECO-CEL (forcotton & cellulosics)

DWR

Barrier ECO-PES (forsynthetics such as PES
and PA)
22. Toray Industries
http://www.toray.com/news/fiber/detail.
html?key=A059554DB106F19649257F4D001D03C9

23. Bristex
http://www.bristex.com - Select ‘PRODUCT’
then ‘Repellof’, ‘Neoshield’ or ‘XPL’

12
12

PFC Revolution in the Outdoor Sector

2014

Special modified polymer

November 2015

Functionalised polymer
formulation

Not known yet

DWR

Unknown, polymer

Repelloff-Eco

DWR

No information

Neoshield

Membrane

No information: ‘polymer’ &‘nano membrane’

XPL

DWR & membrane

PU/TPU membranes and PU
hydrophilic / Micro-porous
coating

January 2016

No details (on show at ISPO
Beijing February 2016)

Company

Technology brand
name

DWR ormembrane

Chemical basis

Date on the market

24. Chemours
https://www.chemours.com/businesses-and-products/fluoroproducts/teflon-ecoelite-water-repellent-finish/index.html

Teflon EcoElite™

DWR

Unknown – based on
60% renewably sourced
plant-based raw materials,
performance far exceeds
other PFC-free technologies,
such as paraffin andsilicones.

25. Huamao
ISPO Beijing

LAYTEX®

DWR and membrane

Membrane PU, TPU, PES(although PTFE listed)
DWR – no information

No information (displayed at
ISPO Beijing February 2016).

26. Jack Wolfskin
http://www.jack-wolfskin.co.uk/pfc/

TEXAPORE

DWR and membrane

Both based on PU

Spring 201627. Sciessent
http://www.sciessent.com/sciessent-curbtechnology

Sciessent Curb

DWR

No information, completely
fluorine freeMid-2016

28. Schoeller
https://www.schoeller-textiles.com/en/technologies/ecorepel-bio

Ecorepel®Bio

DWR

Biopolymer

September 201629. Schoeller
https://www.schoeller-textiles.com/en/
technologies/3xdry-bio

3XDRY®Bio

DWR fabricBiopolymer

September 201630. Sympatex
http://www.sympatex.com/en/membrane/225/properties

Sympatex membrane

Membrane

100% recycled polyetherester polymer

September 2016

31. Green Theme Technologies
https://www.greenthemetek.com/why-usethe-gtt-dry-finish/

ChemStik® also
described as Evergreen

DWR

Hydrocarbons

November 2016

Nikwax Hydrophobic
Down

DWR Down

EVA elastomer

November 2016

Porelle Dry

Membrane

Microporous technology& PU

End 2016

OutDry Extreme ECOMembrane & DWR

PFC-free, no otherinformation

Spring 2017Partly Teflon EcoElite,
part another product(not described)

DWR

No information, part plantbased

Spring 201732. Nikwax
http://www.nikwax.com/en-gb/materials/
hydrodown.php

33. Porelle Membranes
http://www.porellemembranes.co.uk/en/
products/sports-and-leisure/porelle-dry/

34. Columbia
http://blog.columbia.com/preview-outdryextreme-eco/
http://www.columbia.com/outdry-extremeeco-landing/

35. Nau
http://www.snewsnet.com/news/not-greenenough/First products expected Q1
2016

Glossary
DWR - Durable Water Repellent EVA - Ethylene Vinyl Acetate PES - Polyester
PU or PUR - Polyurethane TPU - Thermoplastic polyurethane

PFC Revolution in the Outdoor Sector

1313Authors
Madeleine Cobbing, Chiara Campione,
Mirjam Kopp
Acknowledgements
Kevin Brigden, Ana Hristova
DesignWilliam Morris-Julien

G
Published by Greenpeace Switzerland
Badenerstrasse 171,
8003 Zürich, Switzerland

www.greenpeace.org/switzerland

14

Photo : Greenpeace

Greenpeace is an independent global
campaigning organisation that acts to change
attitudes and behaviour, to protect andconserve the environment and to promote
peace.