Apparel insulation specialist, PrimaLoft, has developed its first ever insulation made entirely from post-consumer recycled (PCR) content. At this year's OutDoor Show in Friedrichshafen, Germany, the company has introduced its PrimaLoft Silver Insulation and PrimaLoft Black Insulation, both of which are 100 per cent PCR.
According to the company, the challenge in producing a high-performance insulation made entirely from post-consumer recycled (PCR) material had been that the melting points of the collected PET bottles used to create the recycled fibres differ from that of virgin fibres, which made the production of a stable insulation fibre that meets performance standards very difficult.
The insulation will offer all the renowned properties that have made PrimaLoft the benchmark in performance insulation, such as low weight, high compressibility and water-repellent characteristics. Around nine commercially available PET bottles are necessary to create the insulation layer for one jacket (thickness 40g / m2).
By 2020, PrimaLoft plans to produce 90 per cent of its insulation products with at least 50 per cent recycled fibre. Most recently, the ingredient brand had provided its pinnacle products, PrimaLoft Gold Insulation and PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Active +, with 55 per cent recycled content.
An outdoor specialist Vaude became one of the first companies to use the sustainable synthetic insulation for its products. Starting in the winter season 2018/19, Vaude will convert all products that were previously equipped with PrimaLoft Silver and Black Insulation to the 100 per cent PCR versions by summer season 2019.
