Polartec Seeks bluesign® Certification

Polartec LLC, the Lawrence, Mass.-based manufacturer of Polartec® performance fabrics for consumer and military apparel, has contracted with Switzerland-based bluesign technologies ag to conduct an evaluation of Polartec’s manufacturing processes and products with the aim of earning certification of compliance with bluesign’s environmental, health and safety standards developed for the textile industry.

“We are very pleased to begin the bluesign® process,” said Andy Vecchione, president, Polartec. “While we are confident that our state-of-the-industry facilities will meet or exceed bluesign standards, we look forward to its feedback and the opportunity to continually raise the bar.”

Under bluesign’s third-party screening process, Polartec’s manufacturing facilities will be evaluated with regard to air and water emissions, resource productivity, occupational health and safety, and consumer safety. As part of the evaluation, bluesign also will make resource and cost-saving recommendations based on “Best Available Technology.”

“It is our vision to assist textile manufacturers to deliver high performance textiles to the market at low environmental impact, all while minimizing resource consumption,” said Peter Waeber, CEO, bluesign technologies. “Polartec already embodies this approach with safety and environmental standards, making us natural partners.”

Polartec’s efforts to operate in an environmentally sustainable manner include an Eco-Engineering program to reduce the environmental effects of its operation and an increasing use of recycled raw materials in its products. In 2008, the company will offer a minimum of 50-percent recycled content in more than 20 percent of its fabrics.

March 25, 2008