YKK innovates with water-repellent zipper for sustainable recycling

YKK has unveiled its new DynaPel™ water-repellent zipper, incorporating GTT EMPEL® technology. This design, compatible with garment recycling systems, utilizes EMPEL® technology instead of the standard PU film to achieve water repellency. By eliminating the PU film, which poses challenges to textile recycling, DynaPel™ aims to facilitate the recycling of performance apparel without the need for additional processing steps.

Terry Tsukumo, Vice President at YKK Corporation, described DynaPel™ as a valuable addition to their circular systems. This innovative zipper addresses the hurdle posed by PU film on water-repellent zippers in traditional garment recycling systems. The absence of PU in DynaPel™ streamlines the recycling process, encouraging recyclers to accept garments without the need for zipper removal.

EMPEL® technology, employed in DynaPel™, utilizes advanced green chemistry without PFAS and a specialized manufacturing process. This process allows the chemistry to penetrate and encapsulate yarn with a durable water-repellent layer through molecular cross-linking. This layer is highly resistant to abrasion and does not affect the visual appearance of the zipper. DynaPel™ is positioned as a sustainable and high-performance solution for water-repellent zippers, representing the future of water protection in this category.