What are PFC chemicals?
PFC chemicals are used by other performance brands to achieve cleanability. If liquid beads on a fabric, it has been treated with a PFC. These substances, also known as PFOA, PFOS, C8, C6 and C4, bond Carbon with Fluorine. This bond is incredibly strong... that's why they work. The problem is they are presistent, so they accumulate in the environment. Growing evidence suggests these chemicals are toxic. Internet search Madrid Statement.
Every American has these chemicals in their body, much of it due to exposure from furniture, carpeting and apparel. These substances are found throughout the environment worldwide... even in whales and other Arctic wildlife! Revolution is the only major performance fabric brand that uses NO PFC CHEMICALS!
STI discontinued the use of PFC chemicals in 2000 when we discovered the problems associated with them. We did this out of concern for our employees. Click here to read more about PFC's.
How can a synthetic fabric be green?
UPCYCLING is the process of transforming byproducts, waste, and other trash into new and useful materials. Olefin is the only UPCYCLED fiber available for making upholstery fabric.
Olefin is a byproduct of refining petroleum. For many years, it was discarded or simply burned off. The Nobel Prize for Chemistry was won by the scientists who discovered a use for this unique polymer.
Are Revolution fibers greener than natural fibers?
Natural fibers like cotton, linen, and wool require lots of the earth’s most precious resources… water and land, which are used in large amounts in the production and dyeing of natural fibers. OLEFIN is dyed without the use of water and requires almost NO LAND and WATER for its production.
Because it is produced from what was formerly waste, Olefin has by far the SMALLEST CARBON FOOTPRINT OF ANY UPHOLSTERY FIBER. (Source: Higg Index)
How fabrics stack up.
The Higg Index was created by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, which includes Patagonia and the Natural Resources Defense Council. A look at how the Higg Index compares the environmental impact of materials used in apparel and footwear. The higher the score, the more sustainable the material (Source: The Wall Street Journal). Click here to read the full article.
| MATERIAL | SCORE |
|---|---|
|
POLYPROPYLENE A byproduct of oil refining and natural gas processing, this material often used in long underwear - uses little land, water or energy and produces little waste. Low use of carcinogens, endocrine disruptors or other toxic chemicals. |
36.1 |
|
SILK FABRIC Chemically clean and leaving little waste, it scores high for sustainablity, though its production emits high levels of greenhouse gases. |
30.7 |
|
COTTON Takes a hit for heavy use of land and water, as well as bleaches and other chemicals used in processing, which puts it in a middling ranking for sustainability, despite its green reputation. |
26.8 |
|
WOOL Because it requires both ample land to produce and toxic, energy-sensitive chemical processing (to turn the scratchy fibers soft enough for modern sensibilities), wool scores low for sustainabilty. |
19.3 |
|
BAMBOO RAYON-VISCOSE FABRIC Often billed as green by manufacturers, this material scores miserably because of the heavy processing, high waste, and energy use required to turn bamboo into a fabric. |
18.9 |
(Source: The Wall Street Journal)