Solutions exist. And sooner or later research finds them. That is what happened in the laboratories of Primaloft, an international company that produces insulation materials and high-performance fabrics, where a naturally biodegradable insulation fibre has been developed. A discovery that could revolutionise the outdoor market, the fruit of years of research and development. The polyester fibre, called PrimaLoft Bio, was obtained without altering the characteristics and performance of the insulation and, according to tests carried out, achieves near-complete degradation in just over a year under natural environmental conditions, such as those found in a landfill.

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Polyester fibre is now biodegradable

The company tested the new fibre in the laboratory using an accelerated test called Astmd5111, designed to assess how much less impact the fibre has once released into the environment. The results showed near-total degradation in 394 days under anaerobic conditions (in the absence of oxygen). That is, the fibre is broken down by bacteria naturally present in soil or water and converted into H20 (water), CH4 (methane), CO2 (carbon dioxide) and biomass (organic waste). In short, the plastic is transformed, dismantled — chemically — piece by piece, leaving almost no trace of itself.

"With PrimaLoft Bio, PrimaLoft Inc. takes on the responsibility of redefining what the term sustainability means. Recycling is a good starting point, but we are determined to bring a better response to the environmental problems facing our industry," said Mike Joyce, president and chief executive officer of PrimaLoft, in a statement. "We looked at the world's problems, including the proliferation of textile waste and microplastics, and studied how PrimaLoft could generate a positive impact, thanks to our expertise in materials and polymer science." This represents a significant breakthrough in the world of sustainable fashion.

Fewer fibres, fewer microplastics

Most microplastics come from synthetic clothing fibres and have recently been found in human faeces as well. This means they have already entered the food chain. Microplastic contamination therefore appears to be more widespread than was previously known. Since 2015, 6,300 million tonnes of plastic waste have been generated, of which around 9 per cent has been recycled, 12 per cent incinerated and 79 per cent has ended up in landfills or in the environment. This new material could help to partially offset the problem.

All the polyester is recycled

The company has long been committed to finding new solutions in the field of environmental sustainability. Last May it brought to market an insulation made entirely from PET bottles, saving 84.7 million plastic bottles from landfill, while from 2020, the company announces, 90 per cent of PrimaLoft's insulation products will contain at least 50 per cent recycled content, without compromising their technical characteristics. Once again, this demonstrates that there is still room to improve production systems, and that companies capable of innovating do exist. Making the circular economy a reality, not just a slogan.