The water footprint of synthetic fibres is way lower than that of cotton, wool or viscose products. The company says it is fully committed to the constant monitoring and control of water resource consumption in its various processes, as well as bringing to the market yarn dyed by the solution-dyeing process, which requires less water and energy compared to traditional yarn dyeing or piece dyeing.

In solution dyeing, the colour is added “upstream” in the extrusion phase, and is thus incorporated into the polymer matrix. In this way, the environmental sustainability of the products offered to customers is enhanced during production. This production chain can really be made sustainable through cooperation among all the players involved, the company reports.

Lower environmental impact

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies conducted by NOYFIL SA and NOYFIL SpA Group companies, engaged in the production of polyester fibres, have shown that solution-dyed yarns have a lower environmental impact than traditional yarn-dyed yarns. A comparison of some of the impact indicators measured for solution-dyed and yarn-dyed Radyarn shows a drop in impact values, as follows:

• Water consumption: - 90%
• Eutrophication: - 50%
• Energy requirement (GER – Global Energy Requirement): - 21%
• Carbon dioxide emissions (GWP – Global Warning Potential): - 16%

The decrease becomes even more dramatic for r-Radyarn, which is obtained from post-consumer recycled polymer, according to the manufacturer. The company believes solution-dyed yarn offers a number of further advantages, which include colour and additives incorporated into the fibre, high light colourfastness, high colour consistency, and lower oligomer release.

Strategic asset

“Having made sustainability a strategic asset of our business, RadiciGroup is ready and fully equipped to be an upstream supplier of low environmental impact products, not only for the fashion sector, but also for the automotive, furnishings and outdoor industries,” said Oscar Novali, business area manager of RadiciGroup Comfort Fibres.

“Together with some of our customers in the polyester fibre area, we have projects in progress that reflect our determination to be an environmentally aware player in the production value chain: solution-dyed yarns manufactured from recycled polymer (r-Radyarn) combining technical and environmental performance.”

www.radicigroup.com