Waterproof without fluorocarbons

PFOA is created in the production process based on C8 technology. C8 stands for eight carbon atoms (carbon = C). Grossly simplified, these carbon atoms are replaced by fluorine atoms (all = per, some = polyfluorinated). This makes an extremely stable and dangerous molecule – PBT substances: 

• P = persistent: does not degrade, or degrades very slowly
  
• B = bioaccumulative: accumulates through the food chain in the body, usually in the blood or in the liver.
  
• T = toxic
  
  

Not exactly a chemical you want to have around. There are many studies about the serious health consequences of PFC in the body, including cancer. 

If a rain jacket was waterproofed with C8, traces of PFOA can be found in it. Whether or not, or the degree to which, this is dangerous for the wearer is still controversial. But in any case, it is clear that in the manufacturing process of PFC and the materials treated with it, PFC escapes into the environment, primarily by means of industrial wastewater. 

Because all of the earth’s water is moving around in a huge, endless cycle of evaporation, rain, ocean currents, etc., PFCs are spread around the planet. We've already known this for a long time, but it was the Greenpeace Detox Campaign to first raise the public’s awareness of the issue. 

The EU is considering a ban on perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA ), but so far there are only legal limits in Norway. Therefore, PFCs continue to be processed legally. 

So we believe that it is all the more important for us to take on responsibility as an outdoor brand and to voluntarily eliminate the use of all PFCs in our products as quickly as possible.

For years, our VAUDE Materials Team has been testing which PFC-free DWR offers the best water beading effect on which materials. The Spray Test is standard for this. In addition we always test abrasion resistance and washing resistance of DWR, and how much water the material absorbs during a simulated heavy rain in accordance with the Bundesmann test. 

Decision pro Eco Finsih
Cyclist Jacket

Decision contra Eco Finish
Escape Light Jacket

This is a long and complex process, which we are promoting together with the manufacturers of materials and the DWR chemicals along with experts from universities and industry associations. We use only the materials that offer full performance in our collections. After all, nobody wants to get wet either...

We are proud of the fact that we now have successfully converted many of our materials to PFC-free DWR: 

The share of our PFC-free apparel products (i.e. products without DWR and Eco Finish waterproofed products) in the 2017 Summer Collection is 95% and in the 2018 Summer Collection it's 100%!

We waterproof the products for which we have found still no functional Eco Finish DWR with a C6 DWR. 

C6 is considered to be a more environmentally friendly alternative to C8. It contains six carbon atoms and does not create PFOA. But because C6 has shorter molecule chains, it is more mobile and spreads faster than C8 via the global waterways. It is really only a stop-gap technology that we want to replace with Eco Finish as soon as possible.

At VAUDE this applies especially to tents, backpacks and some shoes; until the Winter Collection 2017 there are also still a few apparel models.

The Manufacturing Restricted Substance List applies for VAUDE, which sets strict limits on the use of chemicals. The bluesign® system regulates the use of PFCs very strictly as well.