DuPont, Unifi and YOUNGONE Launch ECOLoft™ Eco-Elite Insulation at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2019
DuPont Biomaterials, Unifi, Inc. and Youngone today announced a new collection of insulation products that offers soft, dimensionally stable and sustainable options for cold-weather garments and bedding materials. YOUNGONE – a leading global manufacturer of outdoor and athletic clothing, textiles, footwear and gear – is leveraging DuPont™ Sorona® renewably sourced fiber and Unifi REPREVE® recycled content to debut three new insulation products that provide lightweight breathable warmth with unique softness and shape retention.
The ECOLoft™ eco-elite™ insulation collection is the first post-consumer recycled product that also incorporates bio-based materials for innovative, breakthrough insulation. It features three products with various benefits that all offer a reduced environmental footprint without compromising on insulation performance.
“This ECOLoft™ collection will elevate sustainable, high-performance insulation solutions for the outdoor market and offer brands a versatile option for cold-weather products,” said Renee Henze, Global Marketing Director for DuPont Biomaterials. “Unlike traditional down or synthetic insulation products, this offering optimizes the use of recycled and renewably sourced content for best-in-class insulation solutions, and we look forward to introducing this to the market at Outdoor Retailer.”
The ECOLoft™ eco-elite™ insulation collection features three products:
- ECOLoft™ ActiVe SR (35 percent Sorona® + 55 percent REPREVE) – A synthetic, vertically lapped insulation that combines the warmth-to-weight of down with breathability that is defining a new category of padding and garment design options. Ecoloft™ ActiVe SR features more recycled + renewable content than industry peers, improved vapor management while maintaining warmth, and the compressibility and soft comfort that is ideal for active adventures.
- ECOLoft™ FLEX SR (60 percent Sorona® + 35 percent REPREVE) – Maximized multi-layering of REPREVE® and Sorona® fibers in the padding web create a lightweight, warm insulation designed for breathability and movement. With a lower basis weight than its peers, it offers flexibility, stretch and comfort ideal for the casual market.
- ECOLoft™ AIR SR (60 percent Sorona® + 40 percent REPREVE) – Voluminous natural-down-like synthetic fiberfill for puffer jackets and similar products offers notable warmth, excellent washing performance and vapor management performance for enhanced comfort.
“Both the REPREVE® and Sorona® brands are working with revolutionary products in their own class, and with this partnership, we’re joining forces to continue to innovate within the outdoor market and beyond,” said Meredith Boyd, Senior Vice President of Global Innovations for Unifi. “Through important collaborations such as this, we can drive textile innovation and help revolutionize the future of our industry.”
“These textile leaders are committed to innovation, sustainability and performance – and partnering with them will enable us to offer first-of-their-kind eco-conscious and high performing insulation products,” said Rick Fowler, CTO at Youngone. “We are thrilled to partner with such industry pioneers and launch a much-needed product in the industry.”
Samples of these products will be available at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market June 18-20. For more information or to experience the products firsthand, please visit the DuPont™ Sorona® booth (54089-UL) and Unifi, Inc. booth (55129-UL).
About Unifi
Unifi, Inc. is a global textile solutions provider and one of the world’s leading innovators in manufacturing synthetic and recycled performance fibers. Through REPREVE®, one of Unifi’s proprietary technologies and the global leader in branded recycled performance fibers, Unifi has transformed more than 16 billion plastic bottles into recycled fiber for new apparel, footwear, home goods and other consumer products. The Company’s proprietary PROFIBER™ technologies offer increased performance, comfort and style advantages, enabling customers to develop products that perform, look and feel better. Unifi continually innovates technologies to meet consumer needs in moisture management, thermal regulation, antimicrobial, UV protection, stretch, water resistance and enhanced softness. Unifi collaborates with many of the world’s most influential brands in the sports apparel, fashion, home, automotive and other industries. For news updates from Unifi, visit https://unifi.com/news or follow Unifi on Twitter @UnifiSolutions.
About REPREVE®
Made by Unifi, Inc., REPREVE® is the global leader in branded recycled performance fibers, transforming more than 16 billion plastic bottles into recycled fiber for new clothing, shoes, home goods and other consumer products. REPREVE is the earth-friendly solution to making consumers' favorite brands more environmentally responsible. Found in products from many of the world's leading brands, REPREVE fibers can also be enhanced with Unifi's proprietary technologies for increased performance and comfort. For more information about REPREVE, visit http://www.repreve.com, and connect with REPREVE on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About YOUNGONE
Founded in 1974 Youngone is a leading global manufacturer of functional apparel, textiles, footwear and gear. In order to shorten lead times, control quality and provide customers the best possible insulation options, Youngone has vertically integrated the manufacturing of components on site with garment manufacturing. Beginning in the 1970s with synthetic fiber fill, Youngone’s nonwoven portfolio has grown to include vertical lap, thermal & chemical bonded high loft insulations, loose & ball fiber insulations and interlinings for high performance garments in the global markets. As a leader in the functional insulation market with advanced technologies, Youngone is proud to launch this new ecologically conscious range of insulations. The special vertical lapped, maximized multi-layer, and integral ball fiber production technologies are all enhanced by the Repreve® and Sorona® fiber’s combined flexibility, high resilience and excellent volume to weight. More detailed company information can be found at http://www.youngonecorporation.com.
About DuPont Biomaterials
DuPont Biomaterials brings innovations to global partners through the development of high performance, renewable materials. It does so through its novel bio-based solutions for industries as varied as packaging, food, cosmetics, apparel and carpeting, all facing the challenges of greening their supply chains and offering high performance, sustainable choices to their downstream customers. To learn more about DuPont Biomaterials, please visit http://biosciences.dupont.com/solutions/biomaterials/.
About DuPont
DuPont (NYSE: DD) is a global innovation leader with technology-based materials, ingredients and solutions that help transform industries and everyday life. Our employees apply diverse science and expertise to help customers advance their best ideas and deliver essential innovations in key markets including electronics, transportation, construction, water, health and wellness, food, and worker safety. More information can be found at http://www.dupont.com.
DuPont™, the DuPont Oval Logo, and all products, unless otherwise noted, denoted with ™, ℠ or ® are trademarks, service marks or registered trademarks of affiliates of DuPont de Nemours, Inc.
REPREVE® is a registered trademark of Unifi, Inc
ECOLoft™, ECOLoft™ eco-elite™, ECOLoft™ ActiVe SR, ECOLoft™ FLEX SR and ECOLoft™ AIR SR are trademarks of Youngone.
