The YKK Group from Japan has unveiled its latest offering, the DynaPel™ water-repellant zipper, integrating GTT EMPEL® technology. This zipper, engineered for compatibility with garment recycling systems, utilizes EMPEL® technology in lieu of the traditional PU film to achieve its water resistance. This departure from the PU film addresses a significant challenge in textile-to-textile recycling for performance apparel, removing urethane material that complicates garment recycling processes.
Terry Tsukumo, Vice President of the Product Strategy Division at YKK’s Global Sales Headquarters, highlights the significance of this advancement within YKK’s range of fasteners for circular systems. Tsukumo emphasises, “EMPEL® technology allows us to maintain YKK® products’ robust water protection while mitigating the obstacles posed by PU in recycling systems.”
The typical polyurethane film used in water-repellent zippers poses a challenge for conventional chemical and mechanical garment recycling systems, necessitating zipper removal before recycling. EMPEL® technology, however, employs environmentally friendly chemistry without PFAS and a specialised manufacturing process. This process enables the chemistry to permeate the yarn, enveloping it with a water-repellent layer through molecular cross-linking, resulting in a durable and abrasion-resistant layer that is imperceptible to the naked eye.
Tsukumo describes DynaPel™ as a ‘cutting-edge, sustainable, high-performance’ water-repellant zipper, positioning it as the future standard for zipper water protection. These DynaPel™ zippers will feature at the ISPO trade fair in Munich, Germany.
