Swiss textile manufacturer Schoeller is introducing ProEearth, a collection of biodegradable polyester fabrics.
The new line, made from Bluesign-approved fabrics with biodegradable polyester, is part of its Schoeller FTC line, a joint venture between Schoeller Textil AG and the Taiwanese Formosa Taffeta Co. It will bow at Première Vision Paris this week and will then be shown at the Functional Fabric Fair in Portland, Ore., in October.
The 150-year-old company said as a founding developer of the Bluesign system and one of the first activewear and leisurewear manufacturers to receive Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification, ProEarth continues its stance of being on the cutting edge of sustainable practices, bringing one of the first collections of biodegradable synthetic fabrics to the market.
ProEarth was created to help offset the more than 16 million tons of textile waste produced in the U.S. alone each year. The SFTC ProEarth collection will launch with five fabrics designed for lifestyle, fashion and outdoor categories. Made with virgin polyester that has been optimized for biodegradation and tested to biodegrade at faster and better rates than competitive offerings, the first styles available this fall include a jacket, pants and linings with various color options.
“Our SFTC ProEarth collection was a natural progression in Schoeller’s visionary advances around sustainability, while we are also striving to make a difference in an industry that continues to be so demanding on our environment,” Christine Hübner, Schoeller chief revenue officer, said. “After much testing and development, we are truly excited to introduce this collection that is not only friendly to our planet, but also high-quality, luxurious product that consumers of all sorts will love to wear.”
Each of the ProEarth fabrics are enhanced with Schoeller’s eco-friendly production and finishing technology options. Its Ecodye technology saves up to 30 percent of the water, energy and process time used for dying polyester, while its Ecorepel Bio and 3XDry Bio technologies are PFC-free and based on renewable primary products, providing reliable water and dirt repellence.