Polartec: A pioneer in supporting sustainable transformation

For decades, Polartec has been at the forefront of performance, comfort and sustainability with its innovative products. With the new “Beyond Begins Today” campaign, the company draws attention to the most important issues of our time, while celebrating its latest planet-conscious product innovations.

With the introduction of fleece made from recycled polyester from plastic bottles in 1993, Polartec set a milestone both for the company and its future development, but also for the apparel industry. At the time, terms such as circularity and resource conservation were not widely used. Yet even then, Polartec was at the forefront of addressing the issues of recycling, resource conservation and recyclability. Issues that today, are more important than ever. In the years since, Polartec has continued to push the boundaries of innovation in the industry, from the use of 100% recycled and plant-based materials to certified waste reduction and the introduction of cutting-edge technologies that reduce the impact of the company’s activities.

Driving change: Beyond Begins Today

Polartec has never stopped innovating and now that it’s part of Milliken, a global manufacturer with more than 150 years of textile innovation, its access to an extended research and development facility has helped bring more innovative, sustainable solutions to the market in a shorter space of time. To underline the importance and urgency of positive change, Polartec launched its ‘Beyond Begins Today’ campaign earlier this year. The campaign aims to mobilize global awareness through uniting stakeholders around universal themes of sustainability, diversity, and positive change. Consisting of three chapters, two of which have already been launched, each chapter is dedicated to a key theme. The first chapter explores the Planet and the intrinsic value of our natural world. The second is about the role of People and how we can all have a voice in building a more sustainable future. The third chapter will look at the Product. By showcasing the voices of industry leaders and environmental activists, Polartec inspires action and underscores its role in fostering a more sustainable future. With multimedia content and a strategic focus on Planet, People, and Product, this campaign invites brands and consumers alike to join Polartec in transforming rhetoric into action. The static and multimedia content will be released throughout the year across a range of touchpoints and channels.

Karen Beattie, Director of Product Management at Polartec: “Our journey may have begun by creating the world’s first fleece made from recycled plastic water bottles. It didn’t end there. By accepting that yesterday’s achievements are the benchmark for tomorrow’s innovations, we can push harder and go further to safeguard our Planet. At Polartec, prioritizing environmental responsibility and contributing to a more sustainable future through innovative textiles and technologies brings us one step closer to leaving the world a better place than how we found it.”

Innovative, more sustainable solutions: Products redefined

Polartec® Power Shield™ RPM

Polartec continues to set new benchmarks in performance and sustainability. Polartec® Power Shield™ RPM is a recycled polyester fabric that revolutionizes weather protection by offering best-in-class waterproofness and breathability combined with high-stretch comfort and resilience. Polartec® Power Shield™ RPM features a highly durable non-PFAS coating to repel precipitation, 10,000mm hydrostatic head to keep it off, and is available in both 3-Layer and 2-Layer versions. With its high range of motion and highly durable 100% recycled polyester membrane designed for high intensity activities, Power Shield™ RPM is perfect for runners, cyclists and golfers. It also helps solve one of the biggest problems for competitive athletes: underperformance due to overheating – up to 50% less compared to other Polartec membranes. Furthermore, the use of sustainably sourced recycled polyester reduces both the product’s carbon footprint while helping encourage circularity.

With the Polartec® Shed Less™ technology, the company showcases another innovative process that decreases fiber fragment shedding during home laundering up to 85%* without compromising the performance or durability of the fabrics it’s applied to. Less shedding means fewer microfiber fragments end up in the oceans and waterways. This one-of-a-kind technology is globally available on the most iconic Polartec recycled fleeces, Polartec® 200 and Micro™ Series.

Polartec® Shed Less™ 200 Series

Source: Polartec

Polartec® Shed Less™

Polartec® Micro™ Series is a premium recycled fleece with Polartec® Shed Less™ technology and a lofted structure with thermal air pockets to retain warmth without compromising breathability. Highly durable yet incredibly soft, Polartec® Micro™ is both water repellent and quick drying, making it the most versatile synthetic fleece on the market.

Polartec® 200 Series is the modern version of the original PolarFleece®, the first performance fleece knitted from recycled plastic bottle yarn in 1993, now treated with the latest technology to ensure its longevity while protecting the planet. With greater resiliency, lightweight warmth and faster dry times, Polartec® 200 Series sets the industry standard for performance synthetic fleece.

* Test results using AATCC (American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists) TM212-2021 test method for fiber fragment release during home laundering.