The apparel industry’s reliance on synthetic fibers has led to a significant increase in microfiber shedding, resulting in environmental pollution. This has prompted the development of Livinguard Better Fresh, a technology that reduces fiber fragmentation by up to 80 percent and provides leading odor control. The innovation combines functional and environmental benefits in a single solution, offering a superior safety, environmental, and cost profile for apparel brands.

Background and Development

The Livinguard Better Fresh technology was developed over a 15-year period through extensive R&D investments and global collaboration. The company leveraged its expertise in textile finishing to optimize and streamline the application of the technology in a real-world environment. This allowed the innovation to be deployed seamlessly on existing equipment and in established processes.

Key Benefits of Livinguard Better Fresh

• Reduces fiber fragmentation by up to 80 percent
• Provides leading odor control
• Extends the product’s useful life
• Offers a superior safety, environmental, and cost profile for apparel brands

Integration of Odor Control Functionality

Livinguard Technologies recognized that awareness for the environmental impact of textile microfiber shedding is still emerging among consumers. As a result, they chose to integrate odor control functionality into their innovative fiber protection technology. This two-in-one solution allows brands and manufacturers to fund most costs for the chemical solution itself and for managing the complexity associated with its implementation by substituting their existing odor control technologies with Livinguard Better Fresh.

Benefits of the Combined Solution

• Reduces chemical pollution arising from textiles
• Allows for the development or further improvement of low-shedding fabrics with minimal impact on established production equipment and supply chains
• Enables consumers to use their clothes longer and adopt more sustainable laundry practices
• Enhances product longevity without any negative impact on recycling / circularity of the treated clothes

Launch and Validation

The Livinguard Better Fresh technology was officially launched during the Functional Fabric Fair in NYC and Functional Textiles in Shanghai. Further validation activities are being carried out with partners from academia, external laboratories, and pilot customers (apparel brands & textile mills) worldwide.

Quotes from Livinguard Technologies

“Environmental pollution caused by microfibers from textiles has reached absurd proportions,” said Sanjeev Swamy, CEO and founder of Livinguard Technologies AG. “Nobody is willing to pay for solutions that help to mitigate the environmental impact of the clothes we wear every day,” said Jan Hilger, head of Textiles at Livinguard Technologies AG. “No solution is perfect — neither is this one,” said Dr. Alok Goel, R&D manager at Livinguard Technologies AG. “Everybody talks about sustainability — however nobody is willing to pay for solutions that help to mitigate the environmental impact of the clothes we wear every day,” said Jan Hilger, head of Textiles at Livinguard Technologies AG.

Conclusion

The Livinguard Better Fresh technology offers a cost-effective solution to make tangible and substantial progress in the fight against plastic pollution. By reducing fiber fragmentation and providing leading odor control, this innovation can contribute to various established solution pathways for microfiber pollution. With its built-in odor control functionality, consumers can use their clothes longer and adopt more sustainable laundry practices. The technology also enhances product longevity without any negative impact on recycling / circularity of the treated clothes. Overall, Livinguard Better Fresh provides a superior safety, environmental, and cost profile for apparel brands, making it a commercially viable approach to address the environmental impact of textile microfiber shedding.