Returnity – The fabric of multiple lives from Backhausen Interior Textiles – Austria
Cradle to Cradle® Case study
Project of EPEA Int. Umweltforschung GmbH together with Albin Kälin
Trevira CS – a chemical legend revived
The Lower Austrian company Backhausen has always been a traditional Austrian textile crafts company. Based on a growing fabric culture and through the forward-thinking corporate actors, the company was destinated for an ecological product innovation. Backhausen developed jointly with the German environmental research institute EPEA International Umweltforschung GmbH, Returnity®, the world’s first environmentally friendly and 100% cyclable flame-retardant Trevira CS fabrics. Based on the Cradle to Cradle® philosophy, the environmentally friendly chemical optimization method was developed and implemented including the entire manufacturing process of furniture and decorative fabrics.
This specifically means:
- No more lost resources / commodities
- No waste
- Waiver of polluting materials during the production process
- 100% cyclability
- Returnity take back guarantee with the so-called product passport
The chemical substances of concern, especially in the yarn dyeing and the final finishing treatment, have been extracted and replaced with ingredients harmless to humans and which are not harmful to the environment. The flame resistent fiber Trevira CS can therefore circulate in a technical cycle. Returnity® fabrics will be taken back after use. Under license, this technology can be adopted by qualified mills worldwide.
The first Backhausen collection called “Elements”, which consists of 100% Returnity®, was first presented in autumn 2008 and is on the way to conquering the market. The application of the fabric is used in the fields of seat manufacturing and office furniture and in the production of made-up textile products (except apparel). Since the 1st of July 2009 Backhausen produces all Trevira CS fabrics in Returnity® quality.
Website Backhausen Interior Textiles
Website Returnity
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