Duck feathers inspire a greener, dryer tech
The move towards more ecologically sound water-repellent surface treatments for active outdoor lifestyle apparel is being led by HeiQ from their headquarters in Switzerland and China. ECO-DRY is their plant-based alternative to the harmful fluorocarbon (PFC) chemicals that are extensively used by the outdoor industry to weatherproof their products. HeiQ’s alternative uses a 3-D microstructure, inspired by the way duck feathers shed water. The water beads and sheets off of the HeiQ EcoDry treated textile with even better performance and the previous PFC treatments and is more resistant to having its performance degraded by washing and dry cleaning than the PFC style of DWR treatment. HeiQ has developed five versions of EcoDry, each tailored to work with different styles of textile and fibers covering the full spectrum of natural and man-made materials, including technical footwear and bag and packs. This move by HeiQ will begin to herald an end to having harmful fluorocarbons from PFC treatments being washed into the water sources and into the wider environment. Look out for the HeiQ EcoDry swing-tag
