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2024 / 09 / 16
Combatting Fast Fashion’s GHG Emissions: How Porlite Makes a Difference
The apparel industry is the second largest polluting industry in the world, after the oil industry. According to a survey which estimated that the global apparel value chain emits more than 3.3 billion tonnes of Greenhouse gas (GHG) annually. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has also pointed out that the annual GHG emissions from the textile industry have already exceeded the carbon emissions from global air (international flights) and sea transport combined. Therefore, in 2019, UnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme (UNEP) made the textile industry a key industry for sustainable development. UNEP believed that the textile industry should undergo a ‘systemic change’. Systemic change means that the textile industry must explore in greater depth the potential business models, textile design methods, production, promotion, marketing, consumption patterns, and the possibilities for consumer use. Under the premise of this strategy, from 2030 onwards, textile products intended for the EU market will have to fulfill the two key criteria of ‘long life’ and ‘recyclability’. In addition, textiles must not contain hazardous substances. Source: Texile Net In Taiwan Introducing Porlite® – Lightweight. Durable. Recyclable. With the above impact on the market and consumers' fear of toxic substances, top brands are also looking for alternative functional fabrics. Porlite was born out of this background, and the R&D process is geared towards making fabrics environmentally decomposable, truly fulfilling the spirit of “Stand with nature”. With non-toxic manufacturing and MIT production, the key advantage of Porlite is that the membrane has 10 billion pores aligned in an orderly manner, which are smaller than water molecules but bigger than air molecules, making the fabric resist water penetration even under pressure, and breathable at the same time. How Does Porlite Achieve a Circular Economy? First, based on sustainable persistence, Porlite also has long-lasting water-repellent properties. It can be resistant to 30 washes or more. In addition, the fibres on the fabric will stand up again by tumble drying to maintain the water-repellent function. It not only prolongs the PLC but also increases the durability of the functional fabric. Second, in the past, the unused membrane of the fabric after lamination was directly treated as rubbish, which means more carbon emissions in manufacturing and cannot be reclamed. Polite's PP membrane is different, the unused membrane can be recycled after laminating the fabrics and be reused onto new fabrics, which means no resources are wasted in the manufacturing process and reduces resource wastage. In summary, Porlite maximizes the use of our resources through ‘reuse’. Final, the best solution of Porlite PP fabrics by Hwafune, clothing made from Porlite fabrics can be incinerated directly without releasing toxins into the air, because Polite's PP membrane is completely fluorine-free and non-toxic. It is much kinder to the environment than clothing made from other membranes. Moreover, due to the popularity of ‘fast fashion’ in recent years, the increase in clothing waste has led to more and more landfills being built. However, space on the land is limited. Therefore, Porlite advocates incineration as a better option than landfill. Porlite's Environmentally Friendly Flowchart Why Do You Need Porlite? To Build Smarter, Greener, and Stronger Products. This is especially considered because outdoor sports are mostly intense activities. During exercise, there is a lot of perspiration, and the moisture within the jacket can be dissipated through the membrane itself. Porlite is able to provide the most comfortable exercise experience with breathability and moisture permeability that cannot be supplied by any other functional apparel on the market! What’s more, Porlite is sustainable, non-toxic, and safe. It doesn't just give you peace of mind when exercising, you can also protect the environment by changing your purchasing behavior. That’s killing two birds with one stone, isn’t it? Trust in Hwafune and Porlite, we can give you the best choice! Fabric Recommendations
2024 / 09 / 02
How Do Water-Repellent Fabrics Work, and Which One Should You Choose?
Have you ever had an experience? When you want to engage in outdoor sports on the weekend, but the weather is unstable. Sometimes it rains, sometimes the rain stops. Unfortunately, you were caught in an unexpected pouring rain. In a worst-case scenario, your jacket should be soaked but magically not. Only see the water droplets sliding off the surface of the jacket. After you went home, you took off your jacket and flicked it two or three times, then found that more and more water droplets were falling to the floor. Looked at the surface of the jacket again, and it had been spun dry. Why did this happen? Let me introduce it to you ! Introduction to Water Repellent Technology Water repellent, it's very similar to the Lotus Effect. It means that the moisture will not penetrate the fabric so easily. The Lotus Effect refers to the super-hydrophobic and self-cleaning property of the lotus leaf surface. The surface of the lotus leaf is hydrophobic, rainwater falling on the leaf surface will form water droplets due to surface tension, making the contact angle between water and the leaf surface more than 150 degrees. As long as the leaf surface is slightly tilted, the water droplets will roll away from the leaf surface and carry away dust and sludge to achieve a self-cleaning effect. The durable water repellent (DWR) treatment uses an agent on the surface of the fabric to keep the garment dry. However, if moisture or water droplets remain for a long time and still penetrate through. No matter whether the fabrics are waterproof or not, DWR can be used to keep clothes from getting wet for a while. Therefore, it is still fundamentally different from a raincoat. It is relatively correct to say that it can help you have enough buffer time to find a place to hide from the rain! DWR Chemistry: C6 vs C0 Explained The short-chain C6 water repellent, which still contains traces of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Moreover, C6 water-repellent treatment is not permanent because it will gradually weaken with washing, wear, and long-term use. After the fabric has been infiltrated, the functionality of the water repellent will be greatly reduced, and in the end, it may even become ineffective. As a result, fluorine-free C0 water repellent (FC-Free) has been introduced to the market. C0 water-repellent treatment is rare under the above conditions because its fibres can stand up again by tumble drying to maintain the water-repellent function. This means that it can be used for a longer period ! Engineered DWR Solutions by Hwafune Why do you need this function if you love outdoor sports? Imagine it, when you want to go out to exercise but the weather is unstable, but directly wearing a raincoat is too stuffy for you. The water-repellent textile can become your plan B. It not only helps you to resist the temporary rain shower but also makes you more breathable. In summary, It can provide you with a better and more comfortable exercise experience. We have always been very strict in controlling the quality of our fabrics. Our mission is committed to providing every client with the best product experience and responding to their expectations of our fabrics. Therefore, Trust in Hwafune to provide you with the best choice ! Fabric Recommendations
2023 / 11 / 01
The United Nations advocates for environmental sustainability by implementing a circular value chain.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is committed to promoting environmental sustainability. In recent years, the fast fashion trend has led to mass production and impeccable sales figures. However, behind the glamorous sales is the problem of waste and destruction. Eventually, due to oversupply, many new clothes have ended up incineration, leaving a negative impact on our environment. According to the recommendations of the United Nations, the world's textile industry should be moving towards a sustainable and circular direction. One should start from the reduction and ease of recycling in the product design. Additionally, we should educate consumers to identify sustainable products and encourage them to reduce purchases of environmentally harmful items. Finally, the product that has come to the end of its' product lifecycle should be recycled, sorted, and reuse or repaired first. These measures will contribute to achieving a more sustainable textile value chain, protecting the environment, and reducing resource waste.Porlite has always been deeply committed to minimizing its environmental impact. We adhere to the use of non-toxic, eco-friendly materials in our production processes. Furthermore, we strive to conserve energy and water resources during manufacturing. Our dedication is to become the top choice for outdoor enthusiasts who prioritize eco-conscious products.
2023 / 09 / 27
EU Sustainable and Circular Textile Strategy
The European Union, as the world's third-largest economy, consisting of 27 members, unveiled its Sustainable and Circular Textile Strategy in March 2022. The strategy aims to establish ecological design rules for sustainable products, regulating the manufacturing and sale of products in the EU market to reduce their adverse environmental impact. Despite having over 160,000 small and medium-sized textile businesses and generating €162 billion in revenue in 2019, the EU still discards 5.8 million tons of textiles annually, making the internal textile industry the fourth-largest resource consumer and fifth-largest greenhouse gas emitter. Consequently, the EU is committed to further driving the sustainable development of the textile industry to address these challenges. In 2022, global apparel and footwear production reached 620 million tons, with an estimated projection of 1.02 billion tons by 2030. The EU accounted for 22% of global textile imports in 2022, making it one of the largest markets globally. Recognizing the harm caused by fast fashion to the EU's image, the EU declared a war on fast fashion in 2022 and concurrently developed the long-term EU Sustainable and Circular Textile Strategy. From 2030, the EU market requires imported textiles to meet standards for "longevity" and "recyclability" and prohibits the use of harmful substances. Production processes must comply with social and environmental standards, which implies a longer product life cycle to support the circular economy model to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change. The EU being the world's largest textile import market, textiles aiming to enter the EU market in the future must possess durability and recoverability. Therefore, Taiwan's textile industry must prioritize the development of recoverable fibers to maintain its competitive edge and achieve sustainability and carbon reduction goals. The necessitates comprehensive considerations in product and material design to meet the requirements of sustainable and circular textile products. Porlite® is a fabric known for being sustainable and environmentally friendly, addition to its excellent performance. Its waterproof and breathable features are attributed to its polypropylene(PP) microporous material, enabling it to possess both breathability and moisture-wicking capabilities while enhancing its waterproof functionality. What's most significant is that the production process of Porlite® is environmentally conscious. During the membrane's manufacture, it doesn't require water or solvents, significantly reducing resource consumption. Due to the material's unique characteristics, the bonding process only necessitates low temperatures, eliminating the need for additional solvents. By reducing the usage of water and energies, naturally leads to much lower carbon emissions. When you choose Porlite, you demonstrate your commitment to the environment and a connection with nature. 歐盟可持續和循環紡織品戰略 - Tnet全球紡織資訊網
2023 / 02 / 16
EU proposes ban on 10,000 PFAS chemicals - What you need to know
We wanted to bring to your attention a recent proposal by the European Union (EU) to ban up to 10,000 PFAS chemicals, which are widely used in industrial and consumer products. The proposal is part of the EU's efforts to address the risks associated with these persistent and potentially harmful chemicals. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a class of man-made chemicals that are found in a wide range of products, from non-stick cookware to firefighting foam. They are known for their persistence in the environment and their potential to accumulate in human and animal tissues. The proposed ban would cover a wide range of PFAS chemicals, including those used in textiles, food packaging, and cosmetics. The ban would also apply to products imported into the EU. Porlite emphasizes environmental protection from production to disposal. The main material of Porlite membrane is made up of carbon and hydrogen molecules. It is burnable with very low environmental impact and meets the standards on environmentally friendly in terms of saving energy and non-toxic emission. After all, Porlite creates no harm to human bodies and the earth. We will continue to monitor this issue and keep you updated on any new developments. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. Information source: https://cen.acs.org/environment/persistent-pollutants/EU-proposal-ban-10000-PFAS/101/i6