According to a 2021 study conducted by the American Pet Products Association, 70% of U.S. consumer households (~84.9 million households) own at least one pet. Additionally, in 2020 there were an estimated 89.82 million household pets in Europe. Moreover, in 2017, there were an estimated 84.6 million household pets in China with the population estimated to exceed 136 million pets by 2022. Certainly, there are many consumers worldwide who are pet owners and reside with their pets on a day-to-day basis.
As pet ownership becomes more popular among consumers, residential households therefore become predisposed to pet odors. Pet odors are developed by microorganisms living in pet hair that can produce bad-smelling volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Otherwise known as “nasty pet smells,” the odor-causing bacteria from pets can transfer to home textiles frequently used by consumers. Subsequently, products including towels, bed linens, sheeting, pet beds, and rugs become more susceptible to the build-up of textile permastink. If not controlled, this can forever alter the product’s quality, durability, and freshness performance.
Home textile products that incorporate odor control technologies can remedy the threat of pet odor permeation within fabrics. The ProTecht® metal-free antimicrobial technology (ProTecht® MFA) provides textile products with built-in freshness protection. It utilizes a fast-acting, polymer-based quaternary ammonium silane compound. This both physically and ionically reacts with contaminating bacteria to destroy the organism on contact. Therefore, products treated with the ProTecht® metal-free odor control feature allow consumers to have peace of mind knowing that products remain fresh amid contact with pets at home.
ProTecht® MFA works with antistat technologies to make it easier to remove pet hair. This two-in-one pet-friendly performance provided eases the maintenance of home textile products; these products require less laundering over time and can allow pet hair to be swept aside more readily. To learn more about the pet-friendly performance benefits provided by the ProTecht® metal-free odor control feature, visit https://myprotecht.com/pet-friendly-performance/.
In conclusion, textile performance features, including odor control technologies, are becoming a market requirement for consumer products. Consumers desire built-in features that improve the product’s quality and longevity. For this reason, the marketplace urges brands and retailers to incorporate more features that enhance the sustainability of the product and provide lasting benefits to consumers. Trident Group, a leader in the home textiles sector, actively responds to stringent performance requirements in the marketplace by delivering premium home textile products to consumers worldwide. As an innovative manufacturer that produces terry towels and bed linens, Trident Group offers sustainable odor management solutions in their product lines from the ProTecht® portfolio. To learn more about Trident Group’s product offering, visit their expansive product catalog at www.mytrident.com.
Please note: The ProTecht® metal-free antimicrobial technology controls odor-causing bacteria and is not intended to provide any health benefit to the end-user.
Alt, K. (2022, February 23). Pet ownership statistics: How many dogs are in the world? Canine Journal. https://www.caninejournal.com/pet-ownership-statistics/
Insurance Information Institute. (n.d.). Facts + statistics: pet ownership and insurance. https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-pet-ownership-and-insurance