No More Gore-tex!!
If you are native to the Pacific
Northwest then you are probably familiar with Gore-tex. If you have ever
purchased a waterproof backpack, tent, shoes, or even clothing, chances are that
a Gore-tex label was affixed to it. In 1975, Columbia Sportswear introduced the
first Gore-tex parka. A few years later, REI began selling outerwear products
and personal clothing coated with Gore-tex. You can even walk into Wal-mart and
purchase Gore-tex jackets and gloves. Over the past 40 years, Gore-tex has
become the most recognized name in waterproof material for both outerwear
products and personal clothing. But what exactly is Gore-tex, and why should
there be no more?
Basically, Gore-tex is a waterproof/breathable
fabric membrane that is treated with Teflon. Teflon is the brand name for
polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). PTFE is created by a process involving the
carcinogenic substance known as perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), which is a
consistent environmental contaminant. PFOA is an unintentional byproduct formed
during manufacturing processes that involve a group of toxic chemicals known as
perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), which is discussed in this previous post.
Essentially, Gore-tex is a fabric material that consists of extremely toxic
chemicals that do not break down in the environment… ever!
Now, no one can deny the green
movement. Almost every company that provides a product offers an eco-friendly
version of that product. Increased awareness of the toxicity of certain
chemicals is forcing companies to address public concerns over the effects that
their products have on both human health and the environment. And the Gore-tex
brand is not immune to this issue. Since Gore-tex has been a staple for many
decades, they are inevitably the main focus of the concern over the toxicity of
waterproof products.
So what does Gore-tex have to say
about all of this?
Since Gore-tex is a patented product
that has made a fortune off of toxic chemicals for the past 40 years, one
cannot really expect them to publicly announce that all of their products are
bad for human health and the environment. According to a section titled “PFCs”
on the Gore-tex website, “Our products are environmentally sound and safe to
wear… and cause no harm to people and are environmentally sound”. But they just
started using PFOA-free materials in 2011, so what about all those years in
which manufacturing processes and products containing PFOA were the standards? You
can read through the PFC
Fact Sheet available from the Gore-tex website, but that question is never
addressed. Eventually, you will read that “Gore-tex is not a significant source
of PFOA found in the environment”. But who knows how much scientific validity
that statement has? How does one test where
PFOA originated from in the environment??
Regardless of which types of
PFCs are good, bad, or whatever, the waterproof product industry is moving away
from using PFCs altogether… except for stubborn ol’ Gore-tex. According to
Gore-tex, “developing a PFC-free durable water repellant polymer is a challenge
for the whole industry”. Yet we are seeing the emergence of multiple PFC-free
waterproof brands on the market. While REI still carries some Gore-tex
products, they stopped using Gore-tex in their own branded garments in 2008 and
switched over to eVent-brand garments, which is PFC-free. And Columbia
Sportswear is now promoting OutDry products and their own brand of Omni-Dry
products, both of which they say is just as good as or better than Gore-tex. In
fact, it seems that there is an all-out war within the waterproof product
industry between Gore-tex and Columbia Sportswear, which is discussed in this
OregonLive article from 2011. Columbia Sportswear’s Omni-Dry products actually
include signage that states “Better than Gore-tex”, which they say has been
proven with multiple demonstrations at outdoor gear industry shows.
But, if the issue of PFCs doesn’t leave you with a
sour taste in your mouth, then maybe an issue of business ethics might? After
REI stopped using Gore-tex in their own waterproof garments, Gore terminated
the licenses under which REI footwear is manufactured. When asked why, REI
responded “Gore will have to answer that”. Both Columbia Sportswear and their
subsidiary OutDry Technologies have filed complaints with the European
Commission, accusing W.L. Gore & Associates Inc. (the makers of Gore-tex)
of abusing their dominant market position in the sale of waterproof breathable
membranes for footwear and gloves. And the Federal Trade Commission is
conducting its own investigation to determine whether Gore has engaged in
unfair methods of competition. All of this comes after Gore lost a lengthy
legal battle with the company that created OutDry products, in which Gore tried
to have the European Patent Office (EPO) withdraw OutDry’s patent. Details
about the legal battle can be read in this
article by MF Fashion.
As times change, minds change.
Companies that continue to develop products filled with toxic chemicals are
going to become targets of a newer generation of people that are interested in
being eco-friendly and healthy. If the companies that have been around for half
a century don’t change their ways, they will eventually be phased out. And we
are actually witnessing that happening with Gore-tex. The companies that
carried Gore-tex products for years now realize that those products do not
represent their core values. Gore-tex products rely on materials that are toxic
to both humans and the environment. And it seems that the makers of Gore-tex
are more interested in defending their products and fighting their competitors,
instead of admitting to their past mistakes and working towards a new
eco-friendly future.
So… we say… “No More Gore-tex!”
Look for a future blog post that
discusses more eco-friendly alternatives to Gore-tex!
Sources:
Gore-tex’s
webpage devoted to PFCs:
Gore-tex’s
fact sheet on PFCs:
Greenpeace’s
detailed chemical report on PFCs:
MF
Fashion’s article about OutDry vs. Gore-tex:
Minnesota
Department of Health’s overview of PFCs:
OregonLive’s
article about Columbia Sportswear vs. Gore-tex:
GORE TEX CANNOT BE RECYCLED?SCIENCE HAS A ANSWER SOMEWHERE TO BE SURE,HOW EVER I HAVE A RE-PURPOSE IDEA TO KEEP TONS OF THE STUFF OUT OF THE LAND FILLS,OCEANS,STREAMS,AND RIVERS AND LAKES,GORE TEX CAN BE GREEN,THAN ALL PROBLEMS SOLVED THANK YOU.
ReplyDelete