Huntsman to show sustainable solutions at Performance Days in Germany

With more consumers seeking comfort and protection when buying sportswear, they expect their sports apparel to dry quickly, resist stains and odors, and offer breathability. Achieving these functionalities with on-trend aesthetics whilst realizing sustainability, are possible.

“Consumers are increasingly holding sportswear brands accountable for their sustainability efforts, but they still want garments that perform well and look good. That’s entirely achievable today for brands and mills that leverage on the latest dyes and effects technologies and the expertise of the innovators, like Huntsman who create them,” said Dhirendra Gautam, senior director, Global Market Strategy and Innovation, Huntsman Textile Effects. “We are delighted to be able to showcase some of our high-performance and new innovations that can help our brands and mills partners level up in this competitive industry with our economically and environmentally sustainable solutions.”

Huntsman will introduce the Avitera SE Fast process at Performance Days. The revolutionary technology delivers the lowest environmental impact for dyeing polyester-cellulosic (PES-CO) blends. It combines alkali-clearable Terasil W/WW disperse dyes and Avitera SE reactive dyes to cut processing time from around nine hours to just six, helps mills reduce the water and energy required for production by up to 50 per cent and increases output by up to 25 per cent or more while delivering outstanding wet-fastness to ensure that sportswear will not bleed or stain during home laundering, or while in storage or transit, the company said in a press release.

Eropon E3-SAVE is another next-generation water saving innovation. An all-in-one textile auxiliary for PES processing, it allows pre-souring, dyeing and reduction clearing to be combined in a single bath and eliminates the need for anti-foaming products, which shortens processing time and saves water and energy.

In partnership with Chemours, Huntsman will present the new eco-friendly finishes that repel water and stains, and help garments looking new for longer. Teflon EcoElite with Zelan R3 technology contains 63 per cent plant-based materials and is the industry’s first renewably sourced water-repellent finish. It exceeds performance levels possible with traditional fluorinated technologies, with excellent water repellency and durability while reserving breathability.

Another exciting Huntsman innovation is Phobol Extender UXN – a product that optimises water-repellent finishes for long-lasting fabric protection. It is free from butanone oxime, which has recently been re-classified in Europe and restricted above certain limits in products by bluesign.

Huntsman will also showcase revolutionary antimicrobial and odour-control solutions as part of their partnership with Sciessent. Sciessent’s latest anti-odour technology – Nobo specifically developed to reduce odours in natural and synthetic fabrics. It can be incorporated into virtually any fabric – from base layer and activewear tops to socks and underwear to jeans and chinos. It offers a cost-effective way to upgrade everyday garments.

In addition, the partners will also present Sciessent’s Agion Active X2, a next-generation odour-control solution that combines advanced antimicrobial and odour-absorbing technologies to both capture and fight odour-causing bacteria, and Lava X2, a standalone odour adsorption product and key component of Agion Active X2 that attracts, absorbs and degrades odours for long-lasting odour protection.