SINCE 2015, WE’VE ACTIVELY WORKED WITH MATERIAL SUPPLIERS TO CHANGE THE CHEMICALS
USED IN DWR TREATMENTS WITH A GOAL OF DELIVERING 100% PFC-FREE FOOTWEAR.
WHAT ARE PFCS?
Perfluorinated Chemicals (PFCs) are a class of manufactured compounds commonly used in DWR treatments applied to clothing, sleeping bags, tents, and other outdoor products for waterproofing. In footwear, PFCs increase the surface tension of the fabric, which helps water bead up and roll off. PFCs also repel dirt and oil.
WHY REMOVE PFCS?
PFCs are a non-natural substance and degrade very slowly. This leads to a build-up (bioaccumulation) of PFCs in the food web. Unfortunately, these high-performing chemicals enter the food chain, making pollution almost irreversible. Scientists have found traces of PFCs in air, water, wildlife, and human beings.
PFC-FREE ALTERNATIVE?
KEEN uses bio-based and hydrocarbon polymer-based chemistries to achieve the best water repellency performance with the lowest impact. Through industry standard performance testing we’ve found that water repellency for our PFC-free DWR is comparable to traditional iterations.
WHAT IS DWR?
Durable Water Repellent (DWR) is a textile treatment applied to a shoe’s upper. This protective layer prevents water from saturating the fabric, causing water to bead and roll off the surface. It keeps shoes drier, which ultimately keeps feet drier.
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