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PrimaLoft® develops new manufacturing platform

EcoNote | October 25, 2021 | By:

Patagonia is one of the global brands that will use PrimaLoft’s new insulation that’s produced with fewer carbon emissions. Photo: Primaloft.

For decades, insulation manufacturing methods have relied on fossil fuels like coal and natural gas. These industrial processes, widely used by manufacturers across the globe, are leading contributors of greenhouse gas emissions. In response, many brands have focused on material solutions and certifications to counter the rapid rise of CO2 emissions.

PrimaLoft Inc., developer of high performance insulations and fabrics, has been reducing the impact of its products by using recycled material and working to develop technology that combats microplastic pollution. But the company is rethinking the way it manufactures its products and has announced developments to its PrimaLoft® P.U.R.E.™ manufacturing platform. P.U.R.E. (Produced Using Reduced Emissions), a proprietary, renewable manufacturing technology, now achieves up to 70 percent reduction in carbon emissions.

“We looked at the whole manufacturing process and focused on where all the dirty emissions are coming from,” says Tara Maurer-Mackay, senior vice president – product strategy. 

PrimaLoft completed a comprehensive environmental assessment of the insulation manufacturing processes and identified the most impactful opportunities to reduce carbon emissions. From there, its engineers focused on increasing energy efficiency by making changes around the fiber recipe, introducing new thermal equipment, and optimizing the source of energy to drastically reduce carbon emissions.

Using recycled materials means it has saved 16 million kg of CO2 since 2015, the company says. The fiber itself maintains the same basic structure as its existing batted insulations, with special attention paid to the recipe for the binder fibers that provide the insulation with its structural integrity and durability.

Three new products are being launched next year are: PrimaLoft Gold Insulation PURE, PrimaLoft Silver Insulation PURE and PrimaLoft Black Insulation PURE. The first products using the latest version of PrimaLoft PURE will be in stores from autumn/winter 2022 from brands including Patagonia, Bergans of Norway, Alpkit, Kodiak and Viking.

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