Swiss company HeiQ has launched HeiQ Fresh FFL (Fresh For Long), a 100% bio-based odour control technology. The product targets the sportswear and intimate segment, with application especially suitable for seamless garments made of synthetics that are prone to permastink. Visitors at this week’s ISPO are getting a first sniff of the technology at HeiQ’s booth at Hall C3 Booth 402.

Apart from its founding silver product that is today used worldwide in more than 500 million garments by over 100 major active wear brands, and the recently launched volatile odour source sequestering technologies HeiQ Fresh NKU and HeiQ Fresh AGOS, HeiQ says it continues to redefine freshness for textiles by introducing the world’s first bio-based, non-antimicrobial, non-silver-based textile odor control technology – HeiQ Fresh FFL, which is based on a biopolymer derived from 100% renewable source. The wash-resistant, biodegradable textile finishing is said to stop bad smels before they emerge on textiles.

HeiQ Fresh FFL is a non-antimicrobial alternative to traditional odour control in textiles. The sustainable, fully biomass-derived Amino-Sugar-Polymer functions by binding proteins and other sweat components that can cause odour.

The HeiQ Fresh FFL biopolymer supports ready removal of these sweat components during home laundering. As a non-antimicrobial solution to odour control, the regulatory obligations normally associated with biocides are of no relevance when applying HeiQ Fresh FFL on garments and other textile products, the company reports.

“Odour control efficacy is maximized with the correct technology-fiber match, as well as the right application of the technology in the textile finishing process. While most odour-control textile finishing target polyester, the application is often limited to padding, which is not utilized for textiles that seamless garments are made of. HeiQ Fresh FFL can be used on both cellulosic and synthetic fibres. The flexibility of application of HeiQ Fresh FFL – can be done through either exhaust or padding – means that brands can apply it freely on different fiber and product design, including seamless garments,” says Ralf Mundinger, HeiQ’s Head of Technology Application.

“We see this as a clear advantage for our brand partners in the sportswear and intimate segment.”

According to HeiQ, participants in a multi-day wear trial confirmed that the odour control efficacy of HeiQ Fresh FFL is much better than the best silver antimicrobial textile finishing on the market (control). HeiQ Fresh FFL was also tested under the newly developed HeiQ 72-hour Tennis Bag challenge test protocol, in which HeiQ Fresh FFL-treated, control and untreated fabrics infused with artificial sweat are placed into a red Wilson Federer DNA tennis bag in a climate chamber at 30°C (86°C) and 40°C (104°F), followed by an olfactometric evaluation.

In addition to the many ISO laboratory standard tests offered, HeiQ wanted to have a ‘hard hitting’ test and suggests olfactometric evaluation, encouraging brands to “listen to your own nose”, to complement standard laboratory tests in predicting the physiological experience of the human nose, and give a comprehensive evaluation on the “real life” odor control efficacy of the technology.

At its booth at ISPO Munich HeiQ welcomes all visitors to learn more about the product, not only by asking and listening, but actually using their own noses in sniffing the differences between HeiQ Fresh FFL and other odour control finishing. HeiQ Fresh FFL is also ready for any wear trial applications shaould anyone wish to prove odour control performance in the field.

www.heiq.com