The concerns surrounding the global pandemic have undoubtedly brought attention to the importance of hygiene in our everyday lives. Post-vaccine trends indicate the importance of personal hygiene will remain for many years to come and will influence how consumers shop in the future.
Despite increasing availability of vaccines, retail forecasters have seen a spike in demand for antimicrobial textile finishes and believe this technology will be a required market-standard going forward. In turn, brands and retailers have begun requesting antimicrobial finishes on their product lines. Although antimicrobials have been around for several years, some consumers may not understand their purpose for textile products. What are antimicrobials, and how do they add value to textile products?
An antimicrobial is defined as a substance that demonstrates the ability to control the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, mold, mildew, etc. Many antimicrobial agents also have antiviral properties, which aid in preventing the spread of viruses through contaminated surfaces.
Antimicrobial finishes are used to treat products such as apparel, footwear, and home textiles in order to prevent the development of odor caused by bacteria and other microorganisms. Some of the most common active ingredients used in antimicrobial textile finishes include zinc pyrithione, silver nitrate, and quaternary silane (quat-silane).
Many of today’s leading brands and retailers are making the switch to metal-free technologies such as quat-silane based antimicrobial finishes to reduce their environmental impact. Quaternary silane-based antimicrobial technologies are popular because they are non-leaching, particle free, and biodegradable. As sustainability continues to gain importance among consumers, other new advancements in the antimicrobial industry include plant-based and biocide-free odor management technologies. The mode of action for these technologies involves absorbing and neutralizing odors on the surface of the treated article.
Odor-causing microbes have the ability to cause fabric degradation and discoloration over time. The physical process of laundering also deteriorates textiles with each wash, as loose fibers are washed away. The motion of the washing machine and dryer can damage and break fibers and unravel threads. By extending the use of textiles between launderings, antimicrobials can prolong the life of the treated product.
By laundering less frequently, consumers can reduce their household carbon emissions, as well as water and energy usage. This small, simple action can make a substantial difference in the overall environmental impact of residential laundering, which accounts for roughly 8% of all residential-sector carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. (Ro, 2020). Laundering less frequently also saves consumers both money and time, enabling them to enjoy the activities they love.
Over the years, and especially throughout the pandemic, the demand for antimicrobial textile finishes has dramatically increased particularly as the production of face masks and other PPE surged. The antimicrobial industry will continue to experience growth throughout the next several years at an estimated compound annual growth rate of 5.3%. Fortune Business Insights projects that the global antimicrobial textile market will be worth $13.89 billion by 2027 (Jones, 2020).
To learn more about how antimicrobials can add value to textile products visit https://www.consolidatedpathways.com or send an inquiry to info@consolidatedpathways.com.
Jones, S. (2020, September 23). How textile firms can back up protective fiber claims. Sourcing Journal. https://sourcingjournal.com/topics/technology/antibacterial-antimicrobial-traceability-fibretrace-applied-dna-impinj-226408
Ro, C. (2020, March 27). Smart guide to climate changes: The hidden impact of your daily water use. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200326-the-hidden-impact-of-your-daily-water-use