#Textile processing
Alchemie Technology and HeiQ transform the sustainability of odour control textile finishing – with 84% energy saving
New HeiQ Life peppermint odour-preventing treatment applied with groundbreaking Novara single sided digital process
Alchemie Technology, experts in low energy, digital dyeing and finishing technology, partnered with HeiQ, leader in textile innovation, in 2021 to bring sustainable, effective technology to manufacturers across the world and reduce the cost and environmental impact of textile finishing.
Now, HeiQ has launched HeiQ Life, a renewable source peppermint oil-derived textile technology to control malodour development on textiles.
HeiQ Life imparts fabrics with a long-lasting odour control capability. Thanks to the use of peppermint oil as active ingredient, the source of body odours is tackled: odour causing bacteria are inhibited from growth on the textile surface to keep garments fresh, clean, and comfortable. HeiQ Life is especially suitable for apparel such as sportswear, base layers, linings, intimates, hosiery, casual and business wear, but is also designed for home textiles. HeiQ Life can be used on all textiles and is compatible with other finishes, including fabric softeners and wicking agents. It is durable for up to 50 washes.
When using Alchemie’s Novara™ precision digital finishing solution, which uses high velocity jetting technology, to apply HeiQ Life odour control to textiles, the process will consume 84% less energy and 92% less water than the conventional padding process – ultimately improving sustainability and saving costs. In Alchemie’s trials, Novara required 0.4 kWh energy and 0.06 litres of water per kilo, compared to 2.6 kWh energy and 0.8 litres of water using a padder system.
Alchemie’s Novara low energy, single sided digital application system enables functional finishes to be applied at up to 20x the concentration of traditional processes – with a more even application and higher quality.
Alchemie Technology is on a mission to stop 500 million tonnes of total global CO2 emissions being produced by the fashion and textile industry by 2030, by providing manufacturers with more sustainable solutions.
Dr. Simon Kew, Managing Director of Alchemie Technology, said: “Consumers are all too aware of the need to improve sustainability, but brands and manufacturers need to lead the change and invest in more sustainable textile production methods. Annually, approximately 1 million tonnes of chemicals are used for applying functional finishes to apparel and home textiles. The textile industry is one of the biggest polluters on the planet, yet it is also one that can achieve the biggest and quickest amount of change.”
“Alchemie’s low energy, digital finishing technology, together with HeiQ’s plant-based odour control, delivers high performance sustainable finishing which dramatically reduces energy, water, and environmental impact, while also reducing production costs.”
“Our quest for achieving the ultimate in sustainability took a big step in the right direction thanks to our partnership with Alchemie Technology. Consumers typically wash apparel when they smell. Odor-free textiles will be laundered less frequently thereby using less resources as washing represents >30% of the environmental footprint of a garment’s lifetime. With HeiQ Life odor-preventing plant-based ingredient, consumers can wash less and wear more frequently and its application to textiles using Alchemie’s Novara energy saving finishing process takes the sustainability of treated textiles to the next level. We look forward to our fellow humans smelling fresh throughout the day with good conscience” says Carlo Centonze, co-founder and CEO of HeiQ.
