YKK has launched a new water-repellent zipper designed to work in circular systems. The DynaPel zipper uses GTT Empel technology to eliminate the need for a polyurethane (PU) film and is thus designed to be compatible with garment recycling systems.
Conventional chemical and mechanical garment recycling systems cannot process the PU film commonly used on water-repellent zippers, necessitating the removal of zippers from garments before recycling. This additional processing step often deters recyclers from accepting garments with PU zippers, resulting in unnecessary waste.
Empel technology is also free from PFAS, using a specialized manufacturing process that allows the chemistry to penetrate the yarn and encapsulate it with a water-repellent layer through molecular cross-linking. This durable layer is highly resistant to abrasion and invisible to the eye.
YKK’s sustainability program, YKK Sustainability Vision 2050, includes a set of 10 sustainable development goals on the five topics of climate change, material resources, water resources, chemical management, and respect for people.
YKK will be showcasing the zippers at ISPO Munich, where DynaPel has been nominated for the Best New Product Award in the ISPO Textrends competition.
Image source: YKK
