Schoeller And Teijin Frontier Scoop Two Sustainability Innovation Awards At Performance Days In Munich

Image Courtesy of Teijin

This season, the PERFORMANCE FORUM Jury has not only chosen the most sustainable fabrics in all categories to equip the PERFORMANCE FORUM with the most interesting innovations, it has also chosen two winners, awarding both the PERFORMANCE AWARD and also the ECO PERFORMANCE AWARD.

Both fabrics are especially innovative in their own way.

ECO PERFORMANCE AWARD: Schoeller Spinning Group, Art. Alpaca/Merino 

This sustainable blend of organic merino (70%) and fine alpaca (30%) comes undyed in its natural wool and alpaca colors.

The various colors of the softshell jacquard are created by the animals’ natural wool colouring.

This means that neither dyestuff nor chemicals are necessary for the production, and the product is recyclable and biodegradable, even in household compost.

Thanks to its knitted and felted design, the softshell fabric is suitable for a wide range of applications, being windproof and water-repellent to a large extent, and at the same time very warm.

 With Schoeller’s EXP wool treatment process the merino wool can be treated chlorine-free.

PERFORMANCE AWARD: Teijin Frontier Co., Ltd., Art. E245HCBF

The award-winning 3Layer laminate is the perfect combination of top function and sustainability.

The mono-material made of polyester not only consists of recycled components but is also 100% recyclable.

The outer fabric and the backing are made of polyester and also the high-performance membrane.

With a water column of 20,000 mm and a breathability of 30,000 g/qm/24h, it meets the highest performance requirements.

Thanks to the textured yarn made of 100% recycled polyester, the outer fabric can also be produced with a melange effect.

Of course, the DWR is PFC-free. 

Highlights of the PERFORMANCE FORUMs were :   

• New plant-based fabrics with Himalayan nettle fibres, with ginger fibres or with abaca (banana hemp)

• New natural materials, undyed or dyed with vegetable dyes (wool or plant-based fabrics) • A variety of synthetic fabrics dyed without the use of water (spin-dye, dope-dye)

• New top functional monocomponent laminates, e.g. made of 100 % polyamide or polyester, which are recyclable

• Fabrics with recycled natural fibres, such as recycled wool or cotton

• Denim made from paper cloth

• Polyamide from natural raw materials such as castor oil • Recycled polyamide or polyester produced from marine waste