New study on PTFE is covered by mass media and creates awareness

A new study has shown that in the tested areas of the world, concentrations of PFASs in rainwater and snow are higher than local regulations allow for drinking water and thus can pose a health risk when consumed. Even in the remote highlands of Tibet, the level considered safe has been exceeded 14 times.

The results are so alarming that the issue has been taken up by the mass media (for example Süddeutsche Zeitung) and luckily awareness of the problem is growing. The media plays an important role in ensuring that the issue finally reaches the general public.

The topic has been covered by various mass media in the german-speaking countries over the past few days.

For this reason, we are showing you a few gems worth seeing, which address the topic in a understandable and sometimes very entertaining way.

John Oliver - Last Week Tonight

John oliver reaches millions of viewers with his show "last week tonight". He brings comedy and journalism closer together and his piece about PFAS has been watched by over 5 million people on youtube.

Dark Water (Movie)

Dark Waters is a thriller which dramatizes Robert Bilott's case against the chemical manufacturing corporation DuPont after they contaminated a town with unregulated chemicals.

Future Proof

Future Proof is a youtube channel which highlights the efforts of brands and corporations to make business more sustaiable. A video highlights the use of PTFE in the outdoor industry.

More information on the findings from the study will follow soon.

When it comes to a more sustainable future "Everyone has to play their part", says Emma

Emma has been working as an R&D Engineer at dimpora since January 2021 and completed her master's degree in Fiber and Polymer Engineering at Aalto University during the last year at the same time. In the interview, she tells us why she focused on the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of membranes in her master's thesis and why she joined dimpora.


Congratulations on your master's degree! How do you feel and how did you celebrate?

Thanks a lot! I’m very happy and also relieved – combining a job with full-time studies was challenging at times but also amazing in the sense that I got the full LCA experience, looking at the topic both academically and from a business point of view. The celebration part is still on my to-do list: The official graduation ceremony will take place only in December where family and friends are of course invited! 

“I am very much looking forward to finding the best possible material solutions for the outdoor industry and dimpora’s membranes!” - Emma Karttunen

In your master's thesis you worked on LCAs of membranes. What sparked your curiosity about it? And what is an LCA actually? 

LCA is a standardized methodology that is used to estimate the environmental effects or pressure on the environment of products & services. The analysis can cover the whole life cycle from the extraction of the raw materials all the way to the point where the product is disposed, reused or recycled. The results of an LCA can be utilized for example as a help for a company’s internal decision making, to communicate the environmental footprint of a product, or to compare several products, processes or material options. I conducted the LCA as a thesis project to gain a deeper understanding of all the different aspects that need to be considered when developing a product to be more sustainable. And to forge a fact-based opinion on products that are communicated as environmentally friendly. 



Why are such analyses important for the outdoor industry?

It is widely known that one of the alarming issues within the outdoor industry is the usage of extremely toxic perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) for waterproof garments. Even though there are several studies proving the issues, the communication of those chemicals is not as transparent as it could be. Thus, I believe that if LCAs became more a norm rather than an exception and the results were easily available for everyone, it would increase the awareness of the sustainability issues within the whole supply chain, be it fluorinated chemicals, microplastics, long transport routes, recyclability etc. Next to environmental regulations, this would push the outdoor industry towards more sustainable non-fluorinated alternatives. Potentially, this extends also to other similarly harmful components and processes beyond PFCs. However, receiving alarming results in an LCA can only be the first step. The nub of the matter is eventually inhowfar the companies act on it who are involved at any point of the product life cycle.   



Can you already tell us something about your findings? What surprised you?

The goal of the thesis was to analyze dimpora’s two membrane production processes, sane membrane and dimpora eco pur so that we have valid data on the life cycle of our membranes. Moreover, I for example tested how the results would look, if the membrane was made of PTFE which is, unfortunately, the market leading material for waterproof garments. The results were crushing. Using PTFE would significantly increase the impact of the membrane, for example in terms of global warming potential (GWP) and human toxicity potential (HTP). Based on these findings, it is safe to say that dimpora is on the right track with their fluorine-free membrane, which can also be produced as a solvent-free!

 

How can the outdoor industry become more sustainable? Who do you see as responsible for change?

Everyone, so customers, brands, producers, legislators has to play their part when it comes to creating a sustainable, toxic-free future. Sustainable development of raw materials & production processes have an important role, but also the use phase and disposal of the product affect a lot. And there, the big outdoor brands certainly have the biggest lever because of their impact on the user through assortment and communication.



What did you learn from the master's thesis that you can now apply to your work at dimpora?

When developing dimpora’s products, the close communication between different stakeholders, be it our raw material suppliers, membrane producers, our clients, etc., is crucial. I am very much looking forward to finding the best possible material solutions for the outdoor industry and dimpora’s membranes!

"In these extreme weather conditions, the quality of the equipment can be crucial for survival"

Christian Simon is one of our field testers who tests our technology in the most extreme weather conditions in the far north of Europe. We talked to him about his passion for sailing and his experiences with our technology.

Where are we reaching you right now?  

At the moment I have solid ground under my feet again and am on the road with my van. Currently I am heading to the north of Norway for my next adventures.

What is the current weather like and what is your favorite weather? 

The weather is typical for the north at the moment. It's rough and shifty, which I like. However, the sunny periods could definitely be a bit longer. In general, we sailors like windy weather for obvious reasons. If we can get some sunshine on our faces, it's even better.

Christian in extreme weather on the Lofoten

Christian in extreme weather on the Lofoten

How did you become a professional sailor? 

My first contact with sailing was a few years ago when I joined a friend on a sailing trip. We sailed in the mediterranean sea all the way to Morocco. That's when I discovered my love for sailing, which has escalated a bit in the meantime. Now I sail on my own boat around the lofoten islands, which is a bit crazy when I think back.

Can you tell us more about your current project? 

This summer I am exploring Lofoten with its 80 islands. The waters here are very exciting, so I want to gain as much experience as possible. On top of that it will allow me to combine sailing with my passion for wildlife photography.  

What criteria do you use to select your equipment? 

In these extreme weather conditions, the quality of the equipment can be crucial for survival. You can't make any compromises and you have to be able to fully rely on it. As a nature lover, I'm also aware of the effects of the clothing industry and that's why I choose my equipment according to strict sustainability criteria. Especially in the high-performance outdoor sector, the industry still has a lot to do in terms of sustainability, which is quite absurd when you consider that they produce clothes for people who like to be outdoors a lot. 

Why were you attracted to testing this novel technology in extreme weather conditions? 

For too long, the outdoor industry has relied on fluorine-containing materials, which have good performance properties, but with today's knowledge should no longer be used, as they pollute the environment irreversibly. If I can make a small contribution with my testing to help new, sustainable membrane technologies to break through, I will of course be happy to do so. I am curious to see what the technology is capable of in the most extreme conditions, because it is not always easy to find good material for such changeable conditions.

“For too long, the outdoor industry has relied on fluorine-containing materials”
— Christian Simon

What are your first experiences with the dimpora jacket? 

I was able to test the jacket for the first time during a film production. I really liked the first impression of the design and how it feels. Then of course I was curious to see what the jacket is capable of in terms of breathability, water resistance and stretch, which is important when sailing. I was honestly surprised and pleased that I didn't notice any difference to the expensive fluorine-containing high-performance jackets. I think this is good news for us environmentally conscious nature lovers and of course the environment.

How dimpora's jacket performs in those extreme weather?

I have now been able to test the jacket over a longer period of time in the most extreme conditions. The first impression has been confirmed and I have not seen any drop in performance over time. Even though it is a prototype, from my experience the technology is mature and works excellently under the most extreme conditions.