Amsterdam-based Fashion for Good is leading Project DW(O)R-X, a collaborative initiative to benchmark alternative durable water and oil repellent (DWR and DOR) chemistries that do not contain PFAS. The project aims to provide reliable and comparable data to help brands and manufacturers make informed sourcing decisions and evaluate emerging textile finishing technologies.

The initiative has been launched in response to the growing demand for alternatives to PFAS-based finishes. By generating consistent performance data, the project seeks to support the industry in identifying suitable replacement technologies for textile applications.

As part of Project DW(O)R-X, nine PFAS-free solutions, ranging from early-stage innovations to commercially available chemistries, will be assessed across three key areas: performance, environmental impact and cost. The project partners have also developed a new testing framework that better reflects real-world conditions by including multiple testing environments and custom stains commonly found on sportswear and outerwear, such as soil, sunscreen and sweat.

The new framework combines several standardised testing methods to provide a more realistic assessment of product performance. The findings are expected to create a common industry benchmark that brands and textile manufacturers can use for product evaluation and sourcing decisions, while chemical suppliers can use the data to support their performance claims.

The project brings together a broad group of industry partners, including brands adidas and C&A; manufacturing companies Shahi Exports, Paradise Textiles, Positive Materials and Wujiang Fuhua Fabric; and technology providers Archroma, Daikin Chemicals, Dow, Dryfiber, Jintex, Lamoral Coatings, Pulcra Chemicals, Rudolf and vandeyk.tech.