Sympatex plans 100 percent recycled membrane

German high-tech materials developer Sympatex Technologies will introduce plans for a 100 percent recycled Sympatex membrane at the international leather expo, Lineapelle, at the Milan Exhibition Centre in September. The firm will also show high-performance technologies as well as new laminate developments in the footwear business division.

Sympatex introduced a pre-consumer recycling procedure as standard for the manufacturing of the membrane in 2011; the company says this helps reduce the virgin material input stream by up to 15 percent. The focus of this next step of the process is the 100 percent recycled membrane, for which membrane waste is completely reprocessed. The product properties of the membrane can be offered without any noticeable loss of quality. After the qualitative reprocessing, a new membrane is produced from the recycled material.

Laminating the membrane with a 100 percent recycled PES lining or outer fabric creates a completely recycled mono-material, Sympatex PES laminate.