Perstorp Tests Non-Phthalate Plasticizer With Farmerrain to Improve Rainwear

Perstorp tested its Pevalen™ Pro 100 completely non-phthalate plasticizer with Swedish rainwear brand Farmerrain to improve garment performance. Testing showed softer fabric enabling lighter constructions, retained softness at low temperatures for Nordic conditions, and improved drapability. The collaboration targets rainwear with a service life of at least 30 years, which the companies say supports future recycling or recovery of the material at end of life.

Key facts

Market context

Plasticizers are additives that make otherwise rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) flexible, and they are central to coated fabrics, synthetic leather, flooring, cables and films. For decades many PVC plasticizers were phthalates, but tightening chemical regulation and consumer scrutiny have pushed formulators toward non-phthalate alternatives such as ester-based and polyol-ester types. Demand for these replacements is driven mainly by building and construction, automotive interiors, wire and cable, and consumer goods, with apparel a smaller but visible segment. Performance matters as much as compliance: a plasticizer must keep fabrics soft and workable at low temperatures, resist migration and support durability over long service lives. Brands that want longer-lasting, recyclable coated textiles may favour such chemistries, which could gradually shift volumes among suppliers of alternative plasticizers and create room for specialty producers who can document performance and compliance.

Source: official release on perstorp.com. Summary and context written by Market Krystal.