Biostatic stays fresh technology

The treatment stops the growth of odor-causing bacteria in the material. As several treatments can be simultaneously applied at the finish stages of the fabric production process, no additional water or energy is needed and the impact on the environment is reduced.

The active ingredient is a biocide made of silver chloride, it is not nano-silver and does not interfere with the skin’s natural bacterial flora. The treatment is manufactured in the EU with minimal use of resources and in accordance with strict environmental regulations. Polygiene biostatic stays fresh technology has the approvals and certifications relevant for textiles: EPA, BPR, REACH, bluesign®, and Oeko-tex Eco Passports and treated products can be recycled.

What are the benefits of Biostatic stays fresh technology?
The silver salt (AgCl, silver chloride) in Biostatic inhibits and guards against the growth of odors from bacteria and fungi.
Which makes products stay fresh and hygienic.

What is Biostatic stays fresh technology and how does it work?
It is based on silver salt (silver chloride). Silver chloride is naturally present in water and soil.
Its particles have a large number of silver ions per surface area. Due to the structure of the particles, very small amounts of silver salt are needed.

Polygiene is in most cases co-applied with other treatments to the fabric during the finishing stage. This helps minimize the impact on the environment because additional energy or water isn’t required.

Any effects when worn next to skin?
Polygiene has a background in the healthcare sector and the treatments have undergone extensive skin sensitivity testing.
There is no interference with bacteria naturally occurring on the skin – it is active only on the material’s surface and does not interfere with bacteria naturally found on the skin, even when used for long periods of time. Tests also conclude that there is no identified risk from dermal and oral contact with silver treatments. Polygiene isn’t nanosilver.

Production
The product is manufactured in the EU with minimal use of resources and in accordance with strict environmental regulations.

Application
As several treatments can be simultaneously applied, no additional water or energy is needed and the impact on the environment is reduced.

Does it have any environmental approvals?
Polygiene Stays Fresh Technology is bluesign® approved, the textile industry’s demanding environmental certification with a life-cycle approach. It also has Oeko-tex Eco Passports approval, it’s registered under the EU Biocidal Product Directive (BPD) and approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It also meets the requirements of REACH, the EU’s chemicals legislation.

Can treated garments be recycled?
Polygiene treated garments and gear can be recycled.

How has the historical usage of silver impacted the environment?
Silver has been accruing in the environment as far back as Roman times and at the time, this was due to the increased usage of lead. Significantly higher silver levels emerged after the industrial revolution. When you examine different layers of peat, you can see that the levels in one year’s layer suddenly increased 100-fold compared to Roman times. Since then, the levels have remained approximately the same. Any new silver added to the soil is so diluted that it’s quite a minor addition to the old levels. The silver levels today are higher than they were during Roman times, but it’s not a major problem. Plants, bacteria, worms, and other organisms in the soil tolerate significantly higher levels than we currently have.

Do all hazardous metals and chemicals still need to be removed?
Of course, we are working towards minimizing all health risks. The problem with both metals and chemical substances is that they are natural and are found in the environment regardless of human influence. Thus, our target can never be zero. Instead, we must work towards keeping levels from increasing and becoming hazardous.
Chemicals are not bad in and of themselves; rather the opposite is true. Different types of chemical compounds, both natural and man-made, contribute to solving many of humanity’s major challenges. The goal must be for us to both exploit the positive properties of metals and chemicals while at the same time continuing the work to remove those that risk harming us or the environment.