Archroma and Nicca Chemical are collaborating to support the continued growth of ZELAN™ non-fluorinated durable water repellents (DWRs) across the global textile industry. The announcement follows Nicca’s acquisition of the ZELAN™ business from The Chemours Company in March 2026 and extends Archroma’s decade-long legacy with the ZELAN™ brand.
Archroma’s role as ZELAN™’s global distribution, marketing and technical support partner dates to the 2015 launch of Teflon EcoElite™ with ZELAN™ R3 by Chemours and Huntsman Textile Effects, which Archroma acquired in 2023.
Under the new agreement with Nicca, Archroma will continue as the exclusive textile industry distributor of ZELAN™ DWR products and the related Teflon EcoElite™ technology worldwide. Archroma will spearhead marketing initiatives for the solutions and provide technical support to mills and brands worldwide, as before. ZELAN™-finished textiles will also qualify for Archroma’s upcoming HIGH IQ® lastingrepelᴾᴿᴼ assurance program, giving brands a well-recognized consumer-facing mark of DWR performance, durability and sustainability.
The industry’s first renewably sourced DWR, ZELAN™ R3 remains one of the most significant perfluorochemical (PFAS)-free [1] DWRs available today. It contains 63% plant-based materials [2] – sourced from non-GMO and non-food-source feedstock – and offers excellent water repellency and outstanding durability while preserving breathability across all fiber types.
“When we acquired the ZELAN™ business, we inherited more than top-tier technology — we inherited the trust that mills and brands have placed in this platform for over a decade. Keeping Archroma as our exclusive distribution partner for the textile industry means that trust doesn’t have to be rebuilt. Customers get the same product, the same Teflon EcoElite™ support and the same partner they already know,” said a spokesperson from Nicca.
“PFAS-free durable water repellents have moved from a niche alternative to a baseline expectation for major outdoor and outerwear brands, and ZELAN™ has been central to that shift. As Nicca’s exclusive distribution partner for the textile industry, we’re supporting customers through this transition with uninterrupted supply and technical support everywhere they do business,” said Roland Borufka, Product Manager, Finishing and Technical Textiles, Archroma.
The ZELAN™ technology helps brands deliver excellent rain and stain protection, with good runnability for uninterrupted processing and compliance with industry standards. ZELAN™ R3 is bluepass certified and published on the ZDHC Gateway with Conformance Level 3.1.
[1] PFAS-free means below the limits of detection according to industry standard test methods.
[2] ASTM method 6866
