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PFAS & Our Commitment
Understanding PFAS
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of synthetic chemicals often called "forever chemicals" because they don't break down easily in the environment. They've been widely used in various industries since the 1940's for their water-, grease-, and stain-resistant properties. You'll often find PFAS in cookware, food packaging, and even clothing.
PFAS in Clothing
In the fashion industry, PFAS are frequently used in fabrics to make them water-repellent or stain-resistant. While these features may seem convenient, they come with significant downsides: harmful environmental impacts and potential health risks to wearers.
How We're Working Towards PFAS-Free
At Belong Designs, we prioritize both functionality and safety. While the majority of our clothing is crafted without PFAS, the following items may contain PFAS and are getting further tests:
- Men's & Women's Puffy Jackets
- Men's & Women's Switchback Vests
- Men's & Women's Rocky Mountain Pants/Joggers
We are currently working with our factories to remove all PFAS in the above items. The reason these items may have PFAS currently is that they were treated with DWR (Durable Water Repellent) coating to increase their water-resistance. However, we are diligently working to eliminate PFAS entirely from our product line. Here's how we're making this transition while maintaining the technical abilities and benefits traditionally provided by DWR treatments:
- Innovative Materials: We carefully source fabrics that naturally offer durability and performance without harmful chemical treatments. As a small company, we are not always able to pioneer our own solutions for issues that we learn about, like PFAS. With that, great alternative products have been made more readily available (like PFAS-free DWR treatments) that we intend to utilize in our products.
- Eco-Friendly Alternatives: Instead of PFAS-based coatings, we are investing in and adopting environmentally safe processes and finishes that provide water and stain resistance. These alternatives maintain the high performance you expect from our products without compromising your health or the environment.
Current Products Using PFAS
These products were made with the intent to endure severe, wet conditions and were treated with a DWR coating/treatment.
