Overview
From Dupont™ Sorona®
Dupont™ Sorona® is an eco-efficient performance fiber made in part from annually renewable plant-based ingredients. It is used primarily in fiber applications, including textiles for apparel and home, office and automotive interiors, residential and commercial carpeting and automotive mats. Sorona® fiber is a comfort stretch knitwear and woven material with soft, flexible, and stain resistant properties. It's spandex-FREE, yet provides exceptional stretch and recovery even after repeated stretches and washes. Sorona® fibers used for fabrics in T-shirt and hoodies also provide softness and volume, are quick to dry and resist fading for long-lasting, vibrant colors. Sorona® is produced with PDO—a building block with endlessly versatile potential— and using a biological process. 37% of the polymer is made using annually renewable plant-based ingredients. The revolutionary Bio-PDO compound turns a formerly chemical process into an eco-efficient biological one. Compared to Nylon 6 it uses 30% less energy and releases 63% fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
How It's Made
The process begins by harvesting crops and then extracting sugar or glucose from them. Microorganisms are added to the glucose to begin a fermentation process (similar to the process of alcohol). Fermentation replaces chemical synthesis, producing PDO (1,3-Propanediol) in a natural way. TPA (terephthalic acid) is added to the Bio-PDO, creating a molecular bond. The result is Sorona®: a revolutionary, high-performance polymer whose positive impact is felt by yarn spinners, manufacturers, designers, and consumers across the globe.
Available Standards & Certifications
USDA BIOPREFERRED | Sorona® renewably sourced fiber is one of the first 11 products approved as part of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) BioPreferred Program for certified bio-based products.
FROST & SULLIVAN | In 2017, DuPont received the Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Award for European Bio-Based Materials Company of the Year because of its innovative work with Sorona® fiber.
OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 | Sorona® fiber has undergone stringent testing and has been proven to be safe for use by infants and toddlers, earning it Class 1 certification from the OEKO-TEX Standard 100.
BLUESIGN® SYSTEM PARTNER | The bluesign® system unites the textile supply chain to jointly reduce its impact on people and the environment, ensure responsible use of resources, and guarantee the highest level of consumer safety.
SUSTAINABLE BRANDS MEMBER | Sustainable Brands is a learning, collaboration, and commerce community of over 348,000 sustainable business leaders from around the globe. Their mission is to empower more brands to prosper by leading the way to a better world.
TEXTILE EXCHANGE MEMBER | Textile Exchange is a global non-profit that works closely with their members to drive industry transformation in preferred fibers, integrity and standards and responsible supply networks.
CE 100 MEMBER | The Circular Economy 100 brings together members from across the economy to provide unique opportunities for multi-stakeholder collaboration. Member groups include corporates, governments and cities, academic institutions, emerging innovators, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and affiliates.