Resource conscious
Polygiene takes a complete life cycle approach to the manufacture of our product as well as to the application by our customers and use of their customers. Throughout our supply chain, we take care to make decisions that conserve natural resources - from sourcing recycled silver for Polygiene silver salt to manufacturing and application through to consumer use, disposal and recycling.
• Polygiene is based on natural silver salt made from recycled silver.
• Polygiene particles have a large amount of silver ions per surface area. Due to the structure of the particles, very small amounts of silver are required. Treating 5,000 garments or approximately 1,000 kilos of fabric requires the same amount of silver as one or two silver rings.
• Polygiene is applied to the fabric during the finishing stage at the same time as other treatments. This helps minimize impact on the environment because additional energy or water is not required.
• Treated garments can be recycled according to the ECO CIRCLE system, a Japanese textile-recycling program.
Climate smart
Clothing, footwear and gear treated with Polygiene stay fresh and odor free. This means they can be worn several times before washing is required. Washing less at lower temperatures means using less water, electricity and laundry detergent, which is better for the environment. According to a 2006 Cambridge University study, Well-dressed?, washing accounts for up to 85% of the environmental burden of a garment during its life cycle for which the consumer is responsible.
Clothing, footwear and gear also last longer because bacteria and frequent washing break down synthetic fibers faster. Because less washing is required, Polygiene also enables you to pack less clothing and travel lighter with less baggage.
Polygiene is bluesign approved and on the Oeko-tex list of approved products for textiles (Polygiene AT300). Oeko-tex is an independent testing institute that established the global safety standard for textile manufacturing and so-called human ecology.
Minimal ecological footprint
To ensure the availability of resources for future generations, we reduce, recycle and reuse to limit the use of resources today. We consider the entire supply chain – from sourcing material to production and application through to use, washing and disposal.
Sourcing and production
• Polygiene is based on natural silver salt made from 100% recycled silver. Silver salts are naturally present both in water (drinking water as well as sea water) and in the soil.
• The product is manufactured in the EU with minimal use of resources and in accordance with strict environmental regulations.
Application
• Polygiene is applied to the fabric during the finishing stage at the same time as other treatments. This helps minimize impact on the environment because additional energy or water is not required for application. Polygiene application specialists work closely with the production facilities in order to optimize the application process.
• Polygiene does not require any binders, which are often based on toxic substances, such as formaldehyde.
Use
• A minimal amount of Polygiene silver salt is bound to the fabric. When washing Polygiene-treated garments, the miniscule amount of silver released is negligible compared to the silver already naturally present in the water and soil.
In the wastewater treatment plant
• Polygiene’s silver ions are rapidly bound to sulfides present in sewage water and create an insoluble bond (inactive silver sulfide). The silver ions are therefore deactivated upon reaching the wastewater treatment plant and do not affect the final bacterial and biological rinsing stage.
• According to industry experts and third-party research, the low silver content in Polygiene and in the wastewater when washing Polygiene-treated clothing, does not adversely affect the environment or the sewage sludge.
Results from the Swedish National Screening Programme 2007, Sub-report 5: Silver.