• Date 2021-05-17

Impregnating agents or hydrophobing agents are applied in the textile industry to make clothing, e.g. outdoor clothing, water and dirt repellent. Until now, fluorocarbon polymers have been in use, made from petroleum-based raw materials, but which are unfortunately a burden on the environment due to their long-lasting and difficult-to-degrade properties.

The German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) is funding the family-owned company Rudolf GmbH, based in Geretsried (Bavaria), with more than 800,000 Euros as part of the German national Environmental Innovation Programme. The family-owned company's idea of producing fluorine-free impregnating agents with a proportion of at least 90 percent from non-recyclable residues of renewable raw materials from the food industry is innovative. According to the BMU, this pilot project contributes to a circular and sustainable industry. The goal is to cut down on 1,500 tonnes of fluorinated hydrophobing agents for impregnation every year.

Source (in German only): BMU press release of May 4th, 2021 https://www.bmu.de/pressemitteilung/nachwachsendes-impraegniermittel-fuer-textilien-lebensmittelabfaelle-loesen-fluorhaltige-verbindungen-ab

Note: If you are interested in information on funding of innovation projects in the EU, visit the homepage of the EU commission on the LIFE programme and on projects to support the competitiveness of small and medium-sized companies.