Sympatex, whilst not wearing the most inspiring of trademark names is a fabric that has for the last 20 or so years dogged the heels of the better known Gore-Tex. Both a fabrics which use a membrane laminate to produce materials, which are both waterproof and breathable. Thus ideal for outdoor sports garments. Gore-Tex is made from expanded Teflon, and coated with a thin layer of polyurethane to prevent contamination by oils, like sun cream, etc. Sympatex, on the other hand, is made from 100% polyester, of the same base molecules found in PET drink bottles. It is therefore the more recyclable of the two. This characteristic made it suitable for the holistic extender producer responsibility (EPR) idea that once was Ecolog.

More recently, ie; last month, Sympatex Technology released a version called Ecocycle-SL. It’s a 100% recyclable membrane is bonded, without need of solvents, to a recycled content polyester outer fabric. (Gore-Tex’s teflon on the hand still requires a special adhesive to fix it to the exterior material.) Sympatex is available in wet weather garments and footwear in the USA, but is far more common in Europe and its home country of Germany. The company claim “it is the first laminate on the market that can be completely recycled.” ::Sympatex, via Google surfing.