New sustainable fabrics by Singtex

More than 116 million tonnes of waste clothes end up in the landfills every year. A sustainable manufacturer of functional fabrics, Singtex has developed Biotec series to tackle this issue. It reuses organic materials, such as coffee grounds, to make coffee oil membrane and castor beans to produce bio-nylon fabrics. These bio-based materials are said to replace more than 25% petroleum consumption during production and offer a better wearing experience.

Singtex is among the most renowned fabric manufacturers in Taiwan. Singtex is engaged in continuous research and development in the area of outdoor, sports, functional and environment-friendly fabrics, even since its founding in 1989. Its S.Café technology launched in 2009 is now adopted by more than 110 brands.

Singtex introduced S.Café yarn technology in 2009. Through the S.Café producing process, it extracts 11% coffee oil from coffee grounds. The coffee oil is not only used in cosmetics but also in shelter membrane. S.Café Airmemcontains 26% of coffee oil replacing petroleum-based materials. This technology has received US and Taiwan patents and USDA bio-based product certification. Airmem features odour-control, water resistant, wind-proof and breathability. Fabrics laminated with Airmem have receive ISPO Textrends Award selection in 2015 and Top 10 in 2018.

The company explains, “Striving to be the pioneer in sustainable fabrics, Singtex is the first textile company to use EcoPaXX to make Singtex Biotec bio-based nylon fabrics. EcoPaXX is made of 70% tropical castor bean oil; reducing the use of petroleum. This eco-friendly, high performance nylon fabric is perfect for outdoor environment.” Further it states that, “Bio-nylon fabrics are durable, lightweight, abrasion and tear resistant which is perfect for backpack and outdoor equipment fabrics. Biotec bio-based nylon has also received ISPO Textrends Award selection this year.”

The company presented it’s current product lines and the new products during the OutDoor show in Friedrichshafen, Germany, from 17- 20 June, and will present more at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, which will take place in Denver, CO, from 23-26 July. The company has also developed an eco-friendly moderate stretch fabric with long-lasting performance, S.Leisure and it features comfort stretch with breathability, fast-dry, lightweight and good recovery while emitting less carbon footprint.

S.Leisure is recyclable and designed to replace fabrics with 6% spandex and below to tackle the issue. The dyeing process of S.Leisure is at least 20% more energy efficient than spandex. The energy savings of 3000 yards could supply 10 years of drinking water for an individual and 1 month household electricity, according to the man. The carbon footprint each S.Leisure T-shirts saves is equal to the carbon absorption of a tree each day. Pursuing comfort and outlook, spandex is usually mixed with cotton or polyester and accounts for a small percentage of the final fabric. However, recycling is not an option for fabrics with spandex and they consume more energy during production, the company explains.

Other than being eco-friendly, S.Leisure also offers properties suitable for athleisure, training and sports apparel. The company adds that, “It has better colour fastness and flexibility so consumers can enjoy their garments longer.” “The comfort stretch fabric comes with great wicking ability making it fast dry and breathable. It has a soft touch to the skin, lightweight and easy to care for. These outstanding functions are recognised by ISPO Textrends 2019/20 selection.”