【WTiN】The Sustainable Way to Keep Workwear Safe
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Any textiles that enter a controlled production environment such as a cleanroom workspace have to align with stringent microbiological controls because even the smallest particle can cause contamination, lowering production yield or rendering products defective.
And now sustainability requirements have risen up the global corporate agenda, so they have to be considered as well. That’s why the Taiwan-based Asiatic Fiber Corporation (AFC) developed a product that ticks both boxes: absorbent low-lint knitted wipes that adhere to the stringent anti-contamination requirements for the cleanroom workspace and also incorporate recycled materials.
“In introducing the world’s first AFC Circular™ Cleanroom Garment & Cleanroom Wipes, we’ve spearheaded a ground-breaking circular supply chain strategy,” said AFC chairman Chen Ming-tsung. “By repurposing surplus fabric from manufacturing into recycled yarn, we’re not just setting a new standard for innovation; we’re redefining environmental responsibility in textiles.”
The absorbent low-lint wipes are made from 100% polyester, cleanroom laundered and packaged for non-volatile residues and low levels of ions. They also offer chemical resistance for compatibility with various solvents and a thermal resistance below 150°C.
Meeting the sustainability challenge
In addition to the cleanroom wipes, the global drive towards more sustainable manufacturing also inspired the company to develop its AFC Functional Workwear product line, which incorporates recycled materials.
“By enhancing the functionality of fabrics, we aim to elevate the performance and comfort of workwear. This innovative product aligns with the ESG movement and reflects our deep understanding of customer needs,” says Ming-tsung.
“We are a textile service provider that engages in both self-driven and client-led innovation, helping clients become more competitive in their respective markets.”
AFC’s product lines are used in a wide range of industries including solar power, packaging and testing, LED, biotechnology, aerospace and aviation, pharmaceuticals and laboratories, nutraceuticals and food, medical device and microelectronics, amongst others.
To ensure that sustainability doesn’t come at the price of functionality, AFC Functional Workwear is currently undergoing a Body-Box study with a German collaborator DASTEX to ensure the quality of the garments made with recycled materials is on a par with those crafted from new fabrics, in terms of metrics such as particle filtration and release.
The textile industry around the globe is facing increasingly stringent environmental regulations including restrictions on hazardous substances, wastewater, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
As well as repurposing surplus fabric into recycled yarn, AFC has been researching and implementing the practice of upcycling plastic bottles into recycled yarn, creating a circular manufacturing process to participate in the movement to reduce plastic waste.
It has also developed sustainable dyeing processes to minimise water consumption and the use of chemicals and continues to research ways of implementing more recycled content in its products.
