OceanSafe provides proprietary circular textile materials as a scalable alternative to conventional materials. Designed for biodegradability, recyclability and reduced environmental impact, these man-made materials are also safe for the consumer, as they do not contain harmful substances.

Unveiling “naNea”

Ocean Safe´s next-gen biodegradable polyester “naNea” serves as a replacement for conventional PES. Unlike conventional polyester, it is biodegradable in the marine environment by over 93% after 99 days. The polyster does not contain toxicants and is proven to be not eco-toxic. “naNea” fibers and yarns match the performance of conventional polyester, making them an ideal choice for products where resilience and durability are paramount. naNea is the world’s first and only synthetic textile material with “cradle to cradle” certified at gold level. The material is market-ready and scalable today. Transitioning to “naNea” in manufacturing processes is easy. In combination with sustainable dyeing and finishing agents, such as the ones from CHT, innovative textiles can be developed. Such textiles can provide various positive environmental impacts throughout the value chain.

Sustainable solution for low-temperature polyester dyeing

“Cooldye” by CHT is designed for lower temperature dyeing of all types of PES fibers (virgin, recycled, and biodegradable). The application of CHT´s “Cooldye” dyeing process to “naNea” can efficiently help reduce the dyeing temperature, leading to savings in energy and time. The dyeing process of “naNea” is carried out at 110 °C, which is comparatively 20 °C lower than that of standard PES. The “Cooldye” system combines the soy-based leveling agent “Sarabid TS 300” and the sugar-based reducing agent “Redulit GIN” to ensure a sustainable dyeing process. Both the dyeing auxiliaries are biodegradable and meet the highest level of ecological requirements. The “Cooldye” system is complemented by CHT´s “Bemacron HP-LTD” disperse dyes that specifically enable the low-temperature dyeing process, which saves energy and time.

Enhancing “naNea” with eco-friendly hydrophobic finish

“Ecoperl 4” is applied on “naNea” for achieving a hydrophobic finish effect. It is a fluorine-free finishing agent that provides excellent water repellency and very good wash durability. Furthermore, it is biobased and biodegradable product based on special functionalized polymers and waxes. By utilizing CHT´s biobased auxiliaries for dyeing and finishing of naNea, a compatible and responsible approach is ensured. In addition, the final product made from naNea materials and CHT chemistry can be compliant with the “cradle to cradle” certification.