PrimaLoft, Inc., a global leader in advanced material technology expanded its biodegradable technologies with the introduction of PrimaLoft Bio Performance Fabric, the first 100 percent recycled, biodegradable synthetic fabric. PrimaLoft Bio Performance Fabric joins the PrimaLoft Bio Insulation, also the first technology of its kind.

The basis of both innovations is an improved fiber technology, which allows a highly accelerated biodegradation under certain environmental conditions. Both PrimaLoft Bio Performance Fabric and PrimaLoft Bio Insulation are expected to be commercially available in the fall of 2020.

Mike Joyce, president and CEO of PrimaLoft

“From the beginning of this process, we have always considered fabrics to be a particularly important part of the development of biodegradable materials. With this advancement, a fabric garment may now be completely returned to nature. Because we will not compromise performance, we needed to ensure that our biodegradable fibres would stand up to the rigorous process of manufacturing fabrics, while maintaining its ability to degrade. This is really a new horizon, and we try to set the standards towards significantly lessening the environmental impact of the textile industry.”

100 percent post-consumer recycled material

Made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled material, PrimaLoft Bio fibres break down when exposed to specific environments – such as a landfill or the ocean. PrimaLoft has enhanced the fibres to be more attractive to the naturally-occurring microbes found in these environments. The microbes eat away at the fibres at a faster rate, returning the fabric or insulation to natural elements.

As a result, this breakthrough helps to solve the growing problem of microplastics littering the ocean, a significant issue for the textile and other industry. It is estimated that half a million tons of plastic micro-fibres shed during the washing of plastic-based textiles such as polyester, nylon, or acrylic end up in the ocean every year, according to research from The Ellen Macarthur Foundation. PrimaLoft Bio fibres will only biodegrade when exposed to the naturally-occurring microbes in landfills or bodies of water, thus, the fabric remains highly durable throughout its usable life cycle in a garment.

Specific test results show 84.1 percent biodegradation in 423 days under ASTM D5511* conditions (accelerated landfill simulation) and 55.1 percent in biodegradation in 409 days under ASTM D6691** conditions (accelerated marine simulation).

To date, PrimaLoft has saved more than 90 million plastic bottles from landfills and transformed them into premium insulation technologies. Last year, PrimaLoft introduced its first insulations with 100 percent post-consumer recycled material. By 2020, 90 percent of PrimaLoft insulation products will have at least 50 percent post-consumer recycled content, without compromising performance. PrimaLoft expects to continue to push the industry forward with a similar commitment to biodegradable technology across its product portfolio.