It looks like PFCs might slowly be on their way out. At this summer’s OutDoor Show in Germany, some of the largest names in the outdoor industry demonstrated that it is feasible to create high-performance jackets that are PFC-free. A dozen companies, including Marmot, Fjällraven, Jack Wolfskin, Columbia, and Vaude showed off their PFC-free jackets for Spring 2018.
Marmot’s new EvoDry rainwear collection is fully PFC-free and recycled, from the DWR used right down to the zippers. The collection includes three styles of jackets that are made from recycled materials like yarn made from 100% recycled nylon and employ a new dyeing process that cuts down on the use of water and energy yet still delivers the desired color that will last for years.
The three new Marmot jackets in the PFC-free EvoDry collection are the women’s Celeste raincoat, men’s and women’s Phoenix Jacket, and the men’s and women’s Eclipse Jacket.
The Haglöfs L.I.M. Field Jacket is made from a super-thin, yet PFC-free, 1.5-layer laminate called PROOF fabric. It is wind- and waterproof and but very breathability. Haglöfs stripped down everything apart from the bare essentials, rendering the jacket lightweight and super packable.
The Jack Wolfskin Texapore Ecosphere Collection takes it one step further and uses a membrane that is made entirely of other membrane offcuts. Both the outer fabric and lining fabric are made from 100% post-consumer recycled material that is fully PFC-free. Jack Wolfskin is working hard to completely abstain from PFCs — currently 89% of their apparel collection is already PFC-free, including the new Texapore Ecosphere range.