We try to maintain the lowest possible PFC-levels that still delivers the effect that we need to provide the quality our customers request for our clothing. The down that we use, however, is PFC-free, bluesign-certified and traceable. We have initiated a common project with one of the world’s premier fabric manufacturers, Japanese Toray Inc (who make our membrane Dermizax NX, Kevlar and other amazing materials) where we are developing a new PFC free outer-fabric. We tested shell jackets with some of these new materials last winter, and we will continue to do so this winter, but unfortunately the quality is still not at a satisfying or commercially viable level. PFC free fabrics wear faster, get wet faster and gets dirty faster, at least for now. Some people are prepared to compromise with this, and some are not. It can also be debated whether it is environmentally sound to make clothing that wear faster and needs more washing, than clothing with a low amount of PFC. But with that said — our absolute goal is to develop materials that are as good as those we use now (or hopefully even better) without perfluorinated chemicals, and we work very hard to reach that goal.
Read more about sustainability at Stellar Equipment here.