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2023 / 02 / 16
EU proposes ban on 10,000 PFAS chemicals - What you need to know
We wanted to bring to your attention a recent proposal by the European Union (EU) to ban up to 10,000 PFAS chemicals, which are widely used in industrial and consumer products. The proposal is part of the EU's efforts to address the risks associated with these persistent and potentially harmful chemicals. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a class of man-made chemicals that are found in a wide range of products, from non-stick cookware to firefighting foam. They are known for their persistence in the environment and their potential to accumulate in human and animal tissues. The proposed ban would cover a wide range of PFAS chemicals, including those used in textiles, food packaging, and cosmetics. The ban would also apply to products imported into the EU. Porlite emphasizes environmental protection from production to disposal. The main material of Porlite membrane is made up of carbon and hydrogen molecules. It is burnable with very low environmental impact and meets the standards on environmentally friendly in terms of saving energy and non-toxic emission. After all, Porlite creates no harm to human bodies and the earth. We will continue to monitor this issue and keep you updated on any new developments. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. Information source: https://cen.acs.org/environment/persistent-pollutants/EU-proposal-ban-10000-PFAS/101/i6
2022 / 08 / 17
Beware & Be Careful - Forever Chemicals
PFAS is a toxic substance that can cause endocrine abnormality in the human body and even cause cancer. It is easy to spread but hard to decompose. As it accumulates within our organs, people have started to recognize the potential danger it has caused. Surprisingly and..maybe not so surprise!! Did you know PFAS are often found in textiles and even children's products? Nearly 60% of children’s textiles labeled “waterproof”, “stain-resistant”, or “environmentally friendly” that were tested as part of a new study contained toxic PFAS substances known as “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment. PFAS in clothing can get into the body via several routes. The chemicals are volatile, meaning they can break out from the products they are applied with, then move through the air and inhaled by animals and human. Furthermore, the chemical and be absorbed by our skin, making us no where to hide. To avoid PFAS, we introduce Porlite®. A completely fluorine-free fabric from early production to DWR and after customer consumption. It is safe whether wearing or washing. Porlite® cares about people's health and the heath of this planet. Check the information below, or contact us directly to find out more about saving you, me and the planet. Information source: ‘Forever chemicals’ found in nearly 60% of children’s ‘waterproof’ or ‘stain-resistant’ textiles
2022 / 07 / 01
HWAFUNE Breaks Through Textile Difficulties with Porlite by Creating New Trends in Functional Fabrics
Yahoo!FinanceMon, June 27, 2022 at 8:41 PM TAIPEI, Taiwan,June 27, 2022/PRNewswire/ -- When mentioningTaiwan'straditional manufacturing, what pops into your head may be the textile industry. As a global hub for textile manufacturing,Taiwanhas undergone significant changes over the past 30 years. Two of the most important changes are the relocation of industries toChinaand the government's New Southbound Policy. Figure 1.HWAFUNE Chairman Jackson Chang announces Porlite in the interview While Taiwanese textile manufacturers' decision torelocate is mainly driven by the need to reduce costs using cheap overseas labor, the rising labor costs inSoutheast Asia have forced the manufacturers to constantly move their production to other regions, turning them into textile industry nomads. Despite these two relocation trends, HWAFUNE Textile which specializes in manufacturing functional fabrics has insisted on keeping production inTaiwanto provide reliable, high-quality products for esteemed customers. Instead of blindly pursing low costs and low prices through contract manufacturing and ending up in the red ocean, HWAFUNE Textile has strengthenedthe foothold of the Taiwanese textile industry in the global luxury market. One of the hot topics in the functionalapparelmarketin recent years is the European Union's ban on fabricscontaining PTFE. Currently, membranes made of PU, TPU, and PTFE account for the majority of functional apparels. With superior moisture permeability and breathability, PTFE has been adopted more widely than the other two materials. However, when heated tohigh temperatures during the manufacturing process, PTFE will generate PFOA which is classifiedas a possiblehuman carcinogen. In addition, greenhouse gas is produced when fabrics containing this material are incinerated. Even if the fabrics are buriedinlandfills, PFOA will not decompose and will be washed into the ocean by rain. It then gets into the atmosphere via evaporation and is transported to everywhere by airflow or rain. PFOA has even been found in polar bears' livers. Considering the potential impact of the EU's ban on the clothing market and consumers' fear of toxic substances, upmarket brands have been looking for alternative functional fabrics. Therefore, HWAFUNE has joined hands with Phoenix Innovative Materials to develop the functional fabric brand Porlite, which has rapidly won the heart of high-end functional apparel brands. In Light of Future Trends, HWAFUNE Develops Porlite Fabrics with Phoenix Innovative Materials HWAFUNE ChairmanJackson Changsays he started to take interest in PP membranes five years ago. Although HWAFUNE has the ability to mass produce fabrics featuring PTFE, PU, andTPUmembranes, he believes PP membranes will become a trend in the functional apparel industry since the lifecycle of the material, from the production of the membrane and the manufacturing of the fabrics to the disposal of the clothing, is more in line with increased environmental awareness. Turning the ambitious vision into reality is not easy. In the past three years, these two companies worked closely on the manufacturing, testing, and modification of the membrane. Besides functionality, HWAFUNE also consideredthe needsofconsumers during testing, such as waterproof, moisture permeability, and even the appearances of the fabrics after washing. The reason that Chairman Chang is so committed is because he has put himself in consumers'shoesin the first place. He thinks environmental protection, safety, non-toxicity, and practicability should be combined perfectly. Product developers should not need to choose between them, nor should they force consumers to compromise on environmental protection, price, or quality. Dr. Chang, who is responsible for technology development at Phoenix Innovative Materials, explains the three major advantages of Porlite which is produced through non-toxic manufacturing processes inTaiwan. Firstly, there are 10 billion pores arranged in an orderly manner on the membrane. As the pores are smaller than water molecules and bigger than airmolecules, the fabric can resist water penetration, even under pressure, while maintaining breathability. Moreover, since most outdoor exercises are relatively intense and will create a lot of sweat during the process, Porlite can also transport moisture from the clothing to the atmosphere by diffusion through the membrane, thus providing moisture permeability and breathability that no other functional apparel on market can achieve. Porlite Captures Top Brands' Heart with Non-Toxic Manufacturing, Sustainability, Fastness to Washing, and Moisture Permeability In line with the HWAFUNE's commitment to sustainability, the Durable Water Repellent (DWR) for Porlite can endure at least 30 laundering cycles and rain-resistant for period of time, thus providing a longer life span. "I can guarantee that Porlite is capable of replacing existing functional fabrics and can fully address high-end brands' product development requirements," says Chairman Chang who sounds gratified and proud when talking about the product that took him five years to develop. Manufacturing inTaiwanis one of the main reasons that Porlite has won favor withEurope-based tier-one sportswear brands. The high quality enables Porlite to stand out from other competitors and meet customers' needs for upscale and reliable products. Both the PP membrane developed by Phoenix Innovative Materials and the Porlite fabric created by HWAFUNE are manufactured inTaiwan. Thanks to their insistence on domestic production, the companies have established a high-tech brand image for Taiwanese textile companies widely recognized by overseas esteemed customers. These are valuable experiences for both Phoenix Innovative Materials and HWAFUNE. Instead of pursuing short-term profits through contract manufacturing services, Chairman Chang and Dr. Chang spent five years developing the Porlite fabric whose overwhelming advantagesfor environmental protection and functionality have spoken for itself. The goal is to establish bio-based manufacturing processes by using natural materials such as weeds as raw materials and to provide biodegradable products in 10 years. Figure 2. HWAFUNE Chairman Jackson Chang says sustainability is a state where everything can eventually return to the earth without any burden SOURCE HWAFUNE Textile Cited from Yahoo! Finance:https://finance.yahoo.com/news/hwafune-breaks-textile-difficulties-porlite-124100459.html
2022 / 05 / 03
Waterproof? Water Repellent? Or Water Resistant?_HWAFUNE Newsletter no.17
Have you ever experienced purchasing a so-called waterproof jacket, but got all wet after heavy rain? Then you started to wonder: shouldn’t it be waterproof? Well, that is because even for waterproof, there are different levels. Below we will introduce 3 levels and why are they different. Water Resistant This is the lowest level for waterproofing. When we discuss water resistance on a jacket, it simply means that the density of the fabric is high. Water needs time to pass through the fabric, therefore it create the feeling of being water resistant. Water Repellent The second level for waterproofing. It means that the moisture will not penetrate the fabric so easily. The durable water repellent (DWR) treatment uses an agent on the surface of the fabric to keep the garment dry. Whether the fabrics are waterproof or not, DWR can be used to keep clothes from getting wet for a distance of time. Waterproof Waterproof is the reliable, guaranteed, top-of-the-line protection so you won't get wet in a storm, a shower, or a sudden torrential downpour on a sunny day. No matter if it’s a porous or non-porous membrane, no water can pass through, to achieve the highest level of waterproof function. Now you know the differences. It is easier to explain your needs to suppliers or local stores. Just remember to choose the functional clothing that meets your need and enjoy it. You can also contact Hwa Fune to know more.