Moving away from PFAS: New materials for outdoor clothing and equipment
PFAS are a large group of chemical substances that repel water, grease and dirt, and have therefore long been used in outdoor clothing and equipment. Because many of these substances degrade only very slowly in the environment, they are also referred to as ‘forever chemicals’. Manufacturers such as VAUDE, Patagonia and Fjällräven are now phasing out these substances from their products. New polymer-based solutions are also emerging for membranes.
Rain jackets, tents and rucksacks are designed to keep out water and remain functional for as long as possible. For many years, the outdoor industry relied on PFAS to achieve these properties, for example in water-repellent treatments. Manufacturers are now seeking alternatives and are modifying materials, coatings and production processes accordingly.
The German outdoor manufacturer VAUDE states that it has been PFAS-free in its clothing since 2021. It adds that even the last of its tents have now been converted accordingly. The company describes the transition as a development process spanning several years, during which materials were re-selected and solutions were repeatedly tested.
The move away from PFAS does not just concern individual chemicals. Fabrics, coatings, membranes and water-repellent treatments must also be re-calibrated to work together.
Outdoor brands are taking different approaches
Patagonia has also made the transition gradually. According to the company, from 2025 all membranes and water-repellent treatments will be manufactured without the use of PFAS. Patagonia introduced its first water-repellent products featuring these changes as early as 2019.
Fjällräven began phasing out PFAS even earlier. According to a report by Globetrotter, the brand has been relying on PFAS-free solutions since 2015. At the same time, it becomes clear why definitive statements such as ‘100 per cent PFAS-free’ can be problematic: traces from production processes or supply chains cannot always be completely ruled out.
These examples illustrate different timelines but a shared direction. The focus is on how functions that were previously achieved using fluorinated chemicals can be realised using other materials and coating systems.
ePE membrane: polyethylene as an alternative to PFAS
In waterproof outdoor clothing, a thin membrane within the fabric often ensures that rain stays out and moisture can escape to the outside. More on the development of waterproof clothing: Plastics in action: The invention of rainwear. A newer generation of GORE-TEX membranes uses ePE, or expanded polyethylene. Polyethylene is a widely used plastic that is processed into a very thin, porous membrane for this purpose.
The relevant products are manufactured without the deliberate addition of PFAS. However, as it cannot be ruled out in every case that trace amounts of PFAS may be present, the phrase ‘100 per cent PFAS-free’ should be avoided.
For the plastics and rubber industry, this development is of interest even beyond the outdoor sector. It demonstrates how changing requirements for chemicals and materials can impact polymer selection, coating, processing and product design. The handling of fluorinated polymers in recycling is also a relevant issue for the industry. Find out more: Fluorinated polymers for the circular economy.
Did you know?
In functional outdoor clothing, the outer fabric, membrane, coating and waterproofing work together. If any of these components is altered, this may require adjustments to the entire material structure. The phase-out of PFAS is therefore also a matter of material design and manufacturing: new solutions must be functional whilst also working in harmony with the other materials and production processes.
