Dr. Jeff Trogolo
Chief Technology Officer Sciessent
Expansion of athleisure has brought a strong demand for antimicrobial & odour control technologies
Sciessent is a leading provider of customised antimicrobial, odour control, and water repellent solutions that enhance the value of manufacturers’ products. Agion antimicrobial solutions from Sciessent have been incorporated into a wide range of healthcare, industrial, and consumer applications, including medical devices, drinking water applications, and textiles/apparel. Sciessent Chief Technology Officer Dr. Jeff Trogolo speaks to Fibre2Fashion on antimicrobial, anti-odour and DWR industry.
What is the size of the global market for antimicrobial, anti-odour, and water repellent technologies? Of this, what is the share of textile/apparel industry?
If you define the antimicrobial market as built-in product protection for hard or soft surfaces, but not including disinfectants, the market size is in the hundreds of millions of dollars. A significant portion of that market is in textile/apparel, but water and food contact applications and medical devices are significant as well. The DWR (durable water repellent) market is significant and also in the hundreds of millions of dollars for the textile/apparel market.
What new technologies have evolved in this field after the advent of COVID-19?
COVID-19 has had several different impacts on the antimicrobial industry. Some companies have pursued new technologies to combat the virus, however, antiviral claims in the US are not permitted for textile finishes unless the end-product is EPA or FDA registered. For example, Sciessent was working on antiviral finishes after the first SARS pandemic in 2004, which led to a customer developing an antiviral N95 respirator with Agion that was FDA-cleared for antiviral claims.
In addition, the impact of the pandemic has increased the interest in antimicrobials in general, perhaps partially driven by everyone exercising at home and needing apparel with built-in odour control.
In which countries/regions are these technologies currently in demand? What growth prospects do you see in other regions?
While we’ve seen continued growth in the United States, we have seen strong, expanding interest in China, Southeast Asia, and India.
Currently, in which segments of the textile/apparel industry are these technologies widely used? What are the benefits?
Odour-control finishes for textiles have traditionally been adopted by the footwear, sportswear, and hunting apparel segments. The market has evolved, though. The expansion of athleisure has brought with it a strong demand for antimicrobial and other odour control technologies. The intersection of social and physical activity around athleisure is a perfect place for the confidence that odour-control apparel provides.
Are sportswear companies major users of these techniques? Why is it so?
Yes, sportswear brands have traditionally been users of antimicrobial technologies. The experience people have had with odour after exercising is the driving factor for the use of antimicrobial and odour-reducing finishes in sportswear. In fact, we have just added a brand-new product to our range – NOBO – a cost-effective way to combat body odour. NOBO, an alternative to antimicrobials, has been specifically formulated to reduce the build-up and retention of odour in natural and synthetic fabrics. This odour adsorber continuously captures olfactory offenders for the lifetime of the garment. It is metal free, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly – as you will need to wash your clothes less, saving water and energy while also increasing its durability. Even better, NOBO’s variable application levels can eliminate odour for the life of the garment.
Talking specifically about Sciessent, how is your technology different from other players?
Sciessent’s odour control products are unique in that since we entered the apparel market, we have offered multiple strategies that can be used independently or in combination. Our Agion antimicrobial prevents the growth of bacteria on the fabric using a controlled ion delivery system which provides for excellent durability. It can be used alone or combined with Lava X2, a non-antimicrobial odour adsorber that traps odours generated on the skin that would otherwise pass through the garment. Lava X2 can be used alone if odour control is desired without an antimicrobial.
In which industries are Agion antimicrobial solutions from Sciessent widely used?
Agion antimicrobial is most widely used in the textile industry for odour control, as well as the drinking water and industrial filtration industry. Water filters can become fouled with bacteria over time, so Agion is incorporated into the filter media to inhibit microbial growth.
What is the future of Agion solutions in the textiles/apparel industry?
Agion is being applied to textiles with new customers all the time, around the world, and we expect that trend to continue. In addition, we have expanded our offering to the industry with Curb fluorine-free DWR and Pilltec anti-pilling technology. Additionally, as the industry evolves, we will continue to innovate and introduce new products and technologies.
Please throw some light on how your products evolved and the kind of research that it involved.
Before we entered the apparel market, Agion was widely used in footwear. We knew that we had to do something different for apparel, so we wanted to introduce a product that was more than the basic antimicrobial with ≈20 home laundering durability, which was the norm at the time. So, we looked at the whole problem and saw two opportunities. Most people wash their clothes far more than 20 times, so we decided to pursue a finish with durability to ≈50 home launderings – a first in the industry.
Furthermore, it was apparent that controlling bacteria on the textile addresses only part of the problem. Odour from bacteria on the skin passes right through the garment, so we developed Lava, the first odour-adsorbing finish suitable to all common types of apparel. For the highest level of performance, we combine the two as Agion Active X2, the ultimate textile odour control solution.
Do you also provide customised solutions? Can you share some examples?
Yes, we have modified our products to meet the needs of customers that are not using standard finishing methods, such as padding or exhaust. Socks are a good example: Sciessent reformulated the Agion product to use in a specialised finishing system for one of the largest sock and underwear manufacturers in the world.
Sciessent entered into a strategic partnership last year with Huntsman Textile Effects. How has your company benefitted?
Huntsman has extensive resources in some jurisdictions that Sciessent has not operated in, thereby opening up new opportunities for Agion, Pilltec, Lava and NOBO.
What new innovations do you have in the pipeline?
Yes, keep an eye out for new products being launched for odour control and with new performance capabilities!
Published on: 18/01/2022
DISCLAIMER: All views and opinions expressed in this column are solely of the interviewee, and they do not reflect in any way the opinion of Fibre2Fashion.com.
