Freudenberg and Ratti Collaborate on Sustainability Projects

Freudenberg Performance Materials (Freudenberg) and Italian fashion textile company Ratti have been collaborating on sustainability projects since the beginning of this year. The first result of this cooperation has been the process of reusing silk textiles and using them in high-performance thermal insulation production that Ratti is currently bringing to market. As a production partner in this project, Freudenberg is contributing to the sustainable development of the apparel and textile industry. The use of recycled materials from other industries, such as post-consumer PET bottles, has been a common practice in the textile industry for years. Freudenberg and Ratti are now reusing silk textiles from their own industry—the apparel industry—in a jointly developed process. Ratti reuses silk textiles (outer fabrics/garments), and Freudenberg uses them to produce thermal insulation made from 70% recycled silk. Additionally, Freudenberg's solvent-free production process for nonwoven significantly reduces the environmental impact of the new process. Jonathan Oh, General Manager of Freudenberg Performance Materials Apparel, stated: "Our partnership with Ratti once again proves what joint innovation efforts can achieve. In this way, we are making a valuable contribution to expanding the scope of sustainability in the textile industry." Freudenberg has one of the most comprehensive technology platforms in the nonwoven industry. For decades, this has enabled the leading technical textile supplier to offer sustainable solutions for a wide range of applications. Airlaid technology plays a key role in the reuse of silk textiles, enabling Freudenberg to produce nonwoven with a three-dimensional structure from this material. This results in the formation of numerous small air cells that provide the filling with excellent thermal insulation properties and exceptional breathability. Combined with high dimensional stability and wash resistance, along with impressive durability, this nonwoven made from silk fabrics recycled at a rate of 70% makes it an ideal choice for environmentally conscious outdoor enthusiasts.