GUARANTEED GREEN.
THE SYMPATEX MEMBRANE
THE COMPACT HYDROPHILIC SYSTEM
WITH A LONG TERM EFFECT
Although it sounds complicated, it is actually very straightforward. When the body sweats, it does so to protect itself from overheating. Although this natural process is vital, it also creates the risk that the body will be cooled excessively, for example if the moisture in the clothing removes the heat from the body. The consequences of this would be reduced performance and a high risk of catching a cold. The solution is called Sympatex.
EXCELLENT COMFORT WHATEVER THE WEATHER –
WATERPROOF, BREATHABLE, WINDPROOF
There is nothing more unpleasant than wet and cold clothing. Sympatex has therefore developed a special membrane which absorbs the water vapour and removes it through the clothing to the outside. This keeps the body warm and dry even in extreme situations. And the best thing about it is that the higher the physical activity, the more efficient the Sympatex membrane works. Functional textiles with a Sympatex membrane also provide effective protection from low temperatures and rain.
RECLYCLING – LAMINATE
The lamination of the Sympatex membrane with outer materials and linings made of polyester results in mono-material polyester laminates. This material combination is the ideal precondition for a direct recycling process using existing technologies.
The recycled outer materials and linings made of polyester are part of the sustainability strategy of Sympatex. The material basis of these fabrics is a yarn that is produced with recycled PET bottles. Sympatex cooperates with the Italian yarn specialist SINTERAMA S.P.A., whose trademark “New Life” is certified according to the internationally renowned “Global Recycle Standard”. The “New Life” yarns are made by using recycled PET bottles that are collected and processed in northern Italy. 100% “made in Italy” and 100% transparent. The applied recycling process is a mechanical process without the addition of polluting chemicals. If you compare the production of 1 kg recycled “New Life” fibres with 1kg oil-based polyester fibres, then the ecological balance is excellent: 32% CO2 reduction, 60% less energy and 94% less water consumption. Instead of 60 litres, only around three litres of the limited resource are used.
For the outer material of a standard Sympatex men’s jacket, for instance, 27 PET bottles (0.5 litres) are recycled and thus reused. The outer materials that are made of recycled yarns represent up to 90% of a final Sympatex laminate product. They are a 100% recyclable product due to the 100% recyclable PES membrane. The performance of recycled and non-recycled PES materials is comparable at a high level.
The 100% recycled functional laminate is the combination of the 100% recycled Sympatex membrane and a 100% recycled PES lining or outer fabric. This is where the Sympatex recycling loop closes.
A growing awareness of sustainable materials and a growing worldwide demand in the apparel sector support the positive global aspects of this ecological progress. Conclusion: reduce, reuse, recycle – the environment will benefit from it.
Sympatex developed a patent in 1996 already, which is to help with the product development of a mono-material piece of clothing in order to provide a mono-material raw material for the following recycling process that is as valuable as possible. This patent for the “completely recyclable jacket made of synthetic polymer material” (formerly Akzo Nobel) can be downloaded here.
PRIMALOFT®