With a blanket ban on the use of highly effective fluorine-based water and oil repellent finishes on textiles being proposed in Europe, retailers may find themselves out of pocket if sub-standard clothing regularly fails in harsh or extreme conditions. But science may be close to finding a suitable replacement.
Reports are coming back to the Ecotextile News news desk direct from the ski slopes of Europe – with unhappy tourists complaining about sub-standard outdoor clothing that’s leaving people wet, cold, and miserable.
The problem seems to be that PFAS-free waterproof and water-resistant outdoor apparel is simply not as durable and effective as is being claimed by many brands and fabric suppliers. Given the current range of PFAS-free durable water repellent (DWR) finishes will never be effective as the soon to be outlawed PFAS-treated garments – says the laws of physics – what does it mean for retailers, and maybe even the future of extreme outdoor pursuits?