Used in rainwear, PFCs are a major source of pollution. By 2024, Patagonia aims to produce all of its water-repellent finishes without PFCs.
PFC: What are we talking about?
PFC is a generic term for perfluorocarbons used in the garment industry for waterproof membranes and water-repellent finishes, among other things. PFCs allow moisture to form drops and roll off the top layers of fabric and membrane.
What is the problem with PFCs?
Perfluorinated or polyfluorinated substances contain fluorine, as their name suggests. However, the latter does not dissolve in nature and is dispersed by the wind and weather conditions. A kind of eternal chemical that even ends up invading the wildest regions of the planet as demonstrated in 2015 a film by Greenpeace which reviewed the conclusions of a large-scale study conducted by the NGO on this subject. It is now known that fluorine is everywhere and ends up in the air, water and food we eat. Not to mention their contribution to the greenhouse effect and environmental contamination by endocrine disruptors.
How can we do without PFCs?
It is not easy to do without PFCs, whose waterproof and water-repellent characteristics are highly sought after in the world of outdoor sports. The objective is to find the best alternative to PFC without compromising the performance and durability of the products. At PatagoniaIn the case of garments labelled "PFC-free", this refers to all products that are manufactured without perfluorinated substances. This also includes PFA, PFO and PFOA, which are chemical substances with slightly different molecular structures and almost similar functions as PFCs. In 2019, the brand began offering its first "PFC-free" garments. Long-term work was required to achieve this. "Making sure our waterproof and water-repellent products perform well is not just about safety," the California-based brand explains. "It's also about creating a product that is above all durable so that the gear gets used longer and doesn't end up in the landfill." Patagonia has also unveiled a maintenance and repair guide of its products. Practical to make your technical clothing last as long as possible.
Goal: PFC-free 100 % water-repellent primers in 2024
For Patagonia, the challenge to produce 100% of its water-repellent primers without PFCs began more than 10 years ago. Between 2013 and 2016, the brand eliminated the use of long-chain fluorocarbon (C8) primers entirely, guided by studies that demonstrated C8's negative impacts on environmental and human health. The problem was that the use of C6 (a shorter-chain fluorocarbon considered less harmful at the time) was also later pointed out for its negative consequences on the environment and health. Patagonia decided to switch to 100 % without PFC. In 2021, technical mountaineering products without any PFCs in the durable water-repellent finish or water-repellent membrane were unveiled. By fall 2022, 78 of Patagonia's water-repellent-primed materials are PFC-free, and the brand is aiming for 100 % PFC-free water-repellent primers by 2024. Find all the Patagonia universe on Private Sport Shop.
And to learn more about the subject, discover the beautiful images ofEntre2PolesPrivate Sport Shop ambassadors: