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| January 24, 2007 |
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Teijin Fibers to Actively Market ECO STORMTM:
The world's first recyclable high performance waterproof and moisture permeable material made of recycled fibers to help expand the ECO CIRCLE to the high functionality category. | |
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| Teijin Fibers Limited | |
Teijin Fibers Limited (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Osaka, President: Yoshinaga Karasawa) has developed the ECO STORMTM full polyester waterproof and moisture permeable material. Made from recycled fibers, ECO STORMTM will reach the market in the near future.
Based on recycled fibers, the ECO STORMTM boasts is waterproof to the highest level and boasts stellar moisture permeability. Made entirely from polyester, it can be recycled into new fibers with the ECO CIRCLE (*) closed-loop recycling system operated by Teijin Fibers after used products are collected. ECO STORMTM is a revolutionary material featuring a sophisticated combination of unprecedented comfort and environmental friendliness.
ECO STORMTM is expected to find growing demand, chiefly from eco-conscious sporting apparel manufacturers based in Japan and abroad, government offices that are required to make green purchases and other companies oriented to environmental considerations for uniform and rain gear applications. Teijin Fibers sees this ECO STORMTM as a strategic material for expanding ECO CIRCLE and will be seeking to step up marketing of this new product in the future.
Details are as follows.
1.Background
| (1) |
Conventional waterproof and moisture permeable materials used in jackets and rainwear for outdoor and sporting purposes were generally composed of nylon or other fiber material coated or laminated with fluorocarbon resin or polyurethane to produce a surface with excellent water repellent properties, water resistance, wind resistance and moisture permeability, quickly releasing sweat and moisture from inside the garment. |
| (2) |
However, demand for recyclable materials has expanded with recent growth in needs for environmentally friendly products. It was difficult to recycle nylon fiber materials coated or laminated with fluorocarbon resin or polyurethane. |
| (3) |
In this domain, it is difficult to provide differentiation in functionality. The market is now increasingly in need of value-added materials. |
| (4) |
In response to this situation, Teijin Fibers developed a material made wholly of eco-friendly polyester that can be recycled in a closed-loop recycling system to actively promote it. |
2. Features of the ECO STORMTM
| (1) |
The world's first chemical recycling technology created by the Teijin Group recycles used products into fibers with totally the same quality as fibers produced from oil. Such recycled fibers can be used as highly water repellent outer materials with varied feel, look and functionality matched with customers' needs. |
| (2) |
Laminated with a newly developed high durability thin polyester film with high withstanding water pressure and outstanding moisture permeability, the material provides the advanced waterproof and water repellent properties, moisture permeability and wind resistance expected of jackets and rainwear for outdoor and sporting use. In addition, it has a thin, light and soft texture and great durability. |
| (3) |
As seen from the explanation above, by laminating the outer material made of recycled polyester fibers with polyester film, Teijin Fibers has successfully achieved the highest level of waterproof and moisture permeable characteristics, wearing comfort and reduced environment impact. Moreover, no organic solvent is used in the process of manufacturing polyester film laminated on the full polyester ECO STORMTM. When it is burned, toxic gas emissions are minimal. |
| (4) |
Final products made from ECO STORMTM can be recycled with ECO CIRCLE by collecting them after use. This reduces oil consumption and waste emission and considerably reduces energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. |
| (5) |
Fundamental performance data are as shown in the table below. |
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| Withstanding water pressure |
20,000 mmH2O or higher (JIS L1092-B) |
| Moisture permeability |
5,000 g/m2･24 hrs (JIS L1099 A-1) |
| 15,000 g/m2･24 hrs (JIS L1099 B-1) | | |
3.ECO STORMTM marketing expansion plan
| (1) |
Teijin Fibers will encourage mainly those outdoor and sporting apparel manufacturers and domestic uniform manufacturers that participate in the ECO CIRCLE system to broaden the array of recycled products by adopting the ECO STORMTM. |
| (2) |
In the export market, Teijin Fibers has been working together with US-based Patagonia, Inc on closed-loop recycling of the Capilene® performance baselayers with ECO CIRCLE since 2005. Currently marketed in Europe, ECO CIRCLE will be expanded with a view towards product collection in the high functionality category, paving the way for broader marketing. |
| (3) |
Sales promotion activities to governmental offices that are required to make green purchases and enterprises that are increasingly conscious of environmental conservation will be boosted for uniform and rain gear applications. |
| (4) |
The sales plan is as follows. |
| Sales price: |
900 to 1,200 yen per meter (for sales to apparel companies) |
| Sales targets: |
750,000m for the initial fiscal year
1,750,000m in fiscal 2008
2,500,000m in fiscal 2009
4,000,000m in fiscal 2010 |
(*)About the ECO CIRCLE
ECO CIRCLE is the world's first closed-loop recycling system. It was developed by Teijin Fibers centering on technology for chemical recycling of polyester products. Collaborating with some 70 participating apparel manufacturers and sporting gear manufacturers based in Japan and overseas, Teijin Fibers provides product development, collection and recycling. Collected products are chemically decomposed to molecules and then recycled into products of the same quality as those produced from oil. Overcoming the issue of quality deterioration involved in the conventional manner of recycling based on physical treatment, it has opened the way for repeated recycling.
For further information, please contact:
Public Relations & Investor Relations Office
Teijin Limited
Tel: +81-3-3506-4055 / Fax: +81-3-3506-4150
E-mail: pr@teijin.co.jp
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Information in the press releases is current on the date of the announcement.
It is subject to change without prior notice.
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