In Delaware, DuPont Industrial Bioscience is seeing increased demand for ecologically friendly materials in the textile markets.
Renee Henze, marketing director for DuPont Biomaterials and Sorono, the company’s renewably sourced fiber, tells Innovation in Textiles that the textile market is “undergoing a pivotal shift” to reduce its environmental footprint. “The fashion industry ranks as one of the most polluting industries of fresh water,” Henze says. “Sorona is helping to address this issue by providing innovative, environmentally friendly fibre options.”
Henze, citing Textile Exchange research, says biobased products sales were approximately $77 billion in 2005—7% of total, global chemical sales—and are forecast to reach $250 billion by 2020.
Sorona is comprised of 37% renewable material and provides “excellent stretch, recovery, and durability properties,” Henze says.
In addition to apparel markets like sportswear and denim, Sorona is also used in residential, commercial, and automotive carpeting. DuPont is looking to expand applications for Sorona, both on its own and in blends with other natural and man-made fibers.