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At YKK we are constantly looking for ways to make our fastening products more eco-friendly.  We were excited to learn how several industries are making an attempt to make their uniforms eco-friendly, including the military and law enforcement industries, as well as fast food restaurant chains, and even the wetsuit industry.

In his article, “Army tests super-repellent uniform,” which appears on www.armytimes.com, Kevin Lilley mentions that army researchers have developed a no-stick, no-stain, no-stink coating called an omniphobic coating, which will eliminate the need for soldiers to wash their uniforms.  This new coating also offers an EPA-sanctioned solution, and in the future, it will be available without fluorine, making it even more eco-friendly.

Army tests super-repellent uniform

Army researchers have developed a no-stick, no-stain, no-stink coating that could all but eliminate the need for soldiers to wash their uniforms – and it’s going commercial before it goes on your ACU. The omniphobic coating – “that means it hates everything,” lead Army researcher Quoc Truong said in an Army news release – is being marketed by UltraTech International Inc.

Waste2Wear is a manufacturer of sustainable and eco-friendly wear and gear for law enforcement and military professionals.  On its website, the company states that, “The production of Waste2Wear fabric turns environment-damaging waste into wearable fabric.  Compared with regular polyester, Waste2Wear fabrics provide a 75% reduction in CO2 emissions and a 70% reduction in energy consumption.”

waste2wear

Making fabrics out of recycled plastic bottles, fashionable garmetns, recycled school and corporate uniforms. All environmental friendly and safe.

According to “Restaurant Uniforms Go Eco-Friendly,”several restaurant fast food chains have developed eco-friendly uniforms.  For example, the fast casual Asian chain Big Bowl has created uniforms made from recycled plastic bottles and polyester, which are a big money saver since they do not require dry cleaning or ironing.

Restaurant Uniforms Go Eco-Friendly

People nowadays are all talking about sustainability and creating an eco-friendly workplace. Increasingly, the restaurant industry is getting in on the “green scene” – from installing energy-efficient hand dryers to controlling water flow in the restroom faucets to using biodegradable and recycled take-away containers.

Picture Organic Clothing is a wetsuit manufacturer that has developed a wetsuit that is designed to be less harsh to the environment.  According to the article, “Picture Organic Clothing may have just made the eco-friendliest wetsuit,” the company’s new wetsuit is “heralded as the most eco-friendly wetsuit ever, and it is made of a ‘sustainable and responsible alternative’ to neoprene, the material most commonly used in wetsuits (and one that is not exactly recyclable or biodegradable)… Picture Wetsuit uses a natural rubber which claims to reduce the suit’s carbon footprint by half.”

Picture Organic Clothing may have just made the eco-friendliest wetsuit

Picture Organic Clothing has a brand new wetsuit that is being heralded as the most eco-friendly wetsuit ever, and is made of a “sustainable and responsible alternative” to neoprene, which is the material most commonly used in wetsuits (and one that is not exactly recyclable or biodegradable).

Like these different industries, YKK is constantly working to develop more sustainable products.   For example, we offer our NATULON® Material Recycled zipper which is made from recycled materials such as PET bottles using materials recycling technologies.

NATULON® Material Recycled – YKK

YKK always tries to contribute to an environmently-friendly society. YKK’s NATULON ® product line is designed for customers who want to increase the recycled content of their products. These zippers are made from recycled materials such as PET bottles using materials recycling technologies.

We also have a NATULON® Chemically Recycled zipper which is made from chemically recycled polyester.

NATULON® Chemically Recycled – YKK

The NATULON ® zipper is designed for customers utilizing a closed loop recycling program. Made from chemically recycled polyester (post consumer), it is perpetually recyclable. Through our NATULON ® products, we have reduced the need for new materials by employing the most advanced chemical recycling technology.

 

YKK

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