MATERIALS THAT MATTER.
Better materials for a better planet
At our core, we’re industry disruptors, breaking barriers and expanding the limits of what’s possible for your products. Sustainability is at the forefront of all that we do, and we’re committed to developing material technology that fuses high performance with low environmental impact.
We’ve always prided ourselves on innovating highly durable materials that outlast the competition – resulting in gloves and finished products that last longer and reduce waste in landfills. Durability is critical for performance and protection, but even more important for the environment.
AX® Materials vs. Leather
Using the HIGG Materials Sustainability Index, the use of our suede materials compared to traditional cow leather results in:
- Lower carbon emissions
- Lower water usage
- Reduced eutrophication
- Fewer chemicals used in manufacturing
- Increased durability for longer-term use
Note: These results were calculated using the HIGG MSI 3.3. They were calculated by AX® Materials and are not third-party verified. AX® Suede NovoSplit 1.05mm values are shown.
Definitions:
Measures the CO2 production for each material. All measurements are normalized to 1 kg of material.
Measures the nutrient density of bodies of water. Nutrient density can be increased to harmful levels via water runoff from manufacturing sites that carry fertilizers and other chemicals into a body of water.
Measures the water volume needed to manufacture the material.
Measures the fossil fuels consumed to manufacture the material.
Measures the use of chemicals in the manufacturing process using the Chemistry Impact Framework.
Recycled Performance Materials
It’s been our mission since day one to incorporate recycled content into our materials without compromising performance. AX® Materials are RCS-certified, a holistic standard that verifies the precise recycled content of a material.
Certified by the Textile Exchange
- Recycled Polyester sourced from post-consumer water bottles
- Recycled Nylon sourced from upcycled nylon chips and discarded fishing nets
Solution Dyed Yarn
Solution dyed materials (also referred to as “dope dyed”) use yarn that’s undergone its coloring process prior to production.
When these materials are manufactured, this already-dyed yarn is then extruded for production rather than piece-dyeing on an as-needed basis.
Solution dyed materials offer high-quality color performance with limited environmental impact, yielding significant savings in CO2 and water usage while reducing dye chemicals in the supply chain.
2. Polymer & Pigment
3. Color Masterbatch
4. Solution Dyed Yarn
5. solution dyed material
All materials with OEKO-TEX® 100 certification have undergone independent testing to ensure they’re free of 350 toxic chemicals. This list includes banned azo colorants, pentachlorophenol, perfluorinated substances (PFAS, PFCs), cadmium, and lead. OEKO-TEX® 100 certification applies to our materials manufactured in China, along with many Korean-made offerings.
PFC-Free
PFCs, aka “perfluorinated compounds,” can also be referred to as PFAS to collectively describe PFOA and PFOS. While PFCs are highly effective at repelling water, they pose a hidden danger to our health and the environment.
All AX® Materials meet PFAS/PFC global regulations and are tested for Total Organic Fluorine (TOF) content using the EN 14582:2016 test method.
Water-Based Manufacturing and Low DMFa
Water-based manufacturing allows us to create a range of synthetic materials with reduced or zero Dimethylformamide (DMFa) that meets requirements for bluesign® (<50ppm). This eliminates the need for traditional solvents in production while still giving the material an authentic look and feel.
bluesign® certified products follow strict guidelines for sustainable textiles, including dramatic reductions in water, energy, and chemical use during production. AX® Materials features a selection of bluesign® materials to help glove and gear manufacturers meet their sustainability metrics.
AX® Cielo RPET-Bio is the first plant-based PU material for gloves, thanks to its 10% bio content made from Susterra® propanediol. This petroleum-free diol is sourced from corn, enabling us to power up gloves with plant-based performance.
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