OceanSafe launches material innovation for the avoidance of microplastics

(CONNECT) The Bern-based start-up OceanSafe AG has created a substitute for polyester in the form of its textile material naNea in order to address the problem of microplastics. The material is biodegradable and fits into the natural cycle in circular fashion, as the company explains in a statement.

Textile manufacturers could work with naNea using existing production lines. This new product from Bern is currently being tested by 300 prospective clients at international textile and fashion companies, while 17 customers in total are already using it commercially. Moreover, test and pilot phases are currently underway at more than 60 other customers. OceanSafe aims to establish an international supply chain to fundamentally revolutionize how polyester is handled and to curb the global volume of microplastic waste.

According to the information, synthetic fibers are found in the majority of textiles produced each year. During every wash cycle and through abrasion, microscopic plastic fibers break loose and are transported into river and ocean systems through wastewater. OceanSafe writes that 35 percent of microplastics found in oceans around the world originate from textile fibers.

“While conventional polyester (PET) accumulates over centuries, independent testing has verified that naNea degrades in seawater within a few months”, as the statement explains. The product is said to make use of a drop-in technology that eliminates the need for the flame-retardant element antimony and heavy metals. Compared with PET, carbon emissions are reduced by 64 percent and no persistent microplastic particles are generated. Another environmental benefit is that water consumption is reduced by 97 percent in comparison with cotton.

OceanSafe develops the technology and licenses it for production to industrial partners along the textile value chain. “For us, this is not just a technological innovation, but a responsibility towards future generations”, states founder and CEO Manuel Schweizer. ce/heg