Fulgar, the manufacturer of a range of textured and covered yarns for the knitting and hosiery industries, has announced that its flagship Amni Soul Eco polyamide has been certified for its rapid degradation in marine environments without compromising on the product’s performance.
As Fulgar notes, one of the most complex issues in marine pollution is the emerging problem of microplastics. These miniscule fragments, measuring less than five millimetres are the result of the degradation of the polymers in plastics. They are a growing presence in seas, rivers and land, and have an impact on marine fauna and biodiversity.
Companies are working to limit this issue, embracing the production of biodegradable materials that are chemically adapted to decompose more quickly when they arrive in the natural environment.
Fulgar’s Amni Soul Eco is a biodegradable polyamide yarn launched in 2014 in collaboration with the Rhodia-Solvay Group. This high-performance product remains the flagship in Fulgar’s eco-nylon product range.
The latest tests carried out on the yarn have confirmed the effectiveness of its make-up. Microplastics released when garments made using Amni Soul Eco are washed, have been shown to decompose twenty times more quickly in the marine environment than microplastics from conventional synthetic yarns. Decomposition in the soil also takes place rapidly. The raw material has also been developed to be sustainable during production by recycling water and through special greenhouse gas reduction treatments.
The biodegradation performance has been accredited to ASTM D5511 – a test standard that covers the determination of the degree and rate of anaerobic biodegradation of plastic materials – and ASTM D6691. The yarn also conforms to Oeko-TEX STD 100 CLASS I Appendix 6 certification and guarantees data transparency for the yarn according to the life cycle assessment model to identify and implement improvements that make the product and processes more sustainable.
“Amni Soul Eco technology is designed to give fabrics long-lasting performance and its bio-degradable component has no negative impact on wear, quality and comfort,” says Fulgar. “The polyamide’s high performance during the lifetime of the garment, providing lightness, exceptional breathability and excellent moisture management, resistance and colour yield, is guaranteed by Fulgar.”
Up to now, high profile brands such as Herno, Colmar and Save the Duck have all selected Amni Soul Eco yarn for their collections.
“The market for ecological yarns is constantly evolving and Fulgar has demonstrated a pioneering approach in this sector, responding to growing demand from client companies seeking valid solutions that will help them achieve their own sustainability objectives,” Fulgar added. “This is a unique opportunity for the textile industry to make real reductions in its environmental impact.”
