In an Industry First, Duvaltex’s New Collection Uses a Biodegradable Polyester Material

On an average day, an estimated 44 million pounds of synthetic textiles are sent to landfills in the United States, coming to 16 billion pounds every year. And though awareness of the waste issue is growing, the trend still points up; the annual amount of textile waste has grown by almost 200 percent in the past 20 years. Synthetic textiles, unlike natural fibers, can’t biodegrade, so they, like most plastics, perniciously enter our ecosystems and food chains.

With this in mind, manufacturers are incorporating more postconsumer waste into their products, but the vast majority of textiles will still end up in landfills. Duvaltex’s Clean Impact Textiles uses the industry’s first recycled, biodegradable polyester, meaning its fibers can break down in landfills and wastewater. The innovation: During the yarn extrusion process, an added biocatalyst helps the fiber decompose through anaerobic digestion “at a rate similar to that of natural fibers,” the company claims.

The collection—a #MetropolisLikes NeoCon winner—doesn’t compromise on looks or performance. It’s available in five patterns and in vivid colors, and is suitable for high-traffic settings.

You may also enjoy “Preview Suzanne Tick’s Newest Collection.”

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