Outdoor industry giant GORE-TEX is so ubiquitous that even small changes to its patented weather-proofing technology reverberate across countless brands and products.
Because of that, details from an announcement made last week by the Maryland-based textile leader regarding its all-new waterproof-breathable membrane — its hallmark technology — will send ripples across the industry and may change performance standards in outerwear.
Launched a year ago, Gore’s expanded polyethylene (ePE) membrane was developed to replace potentially harmful PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in its products.
PFAS – dubbed ‘forever chemicals’ for their durability in the environment – are widely used in water- and stain-proof coatings for textiles but have been linked to major health risks including liver damage, thyroid disease and cancer.
