Autumn debut for new `greener` Scotchgard
Having halted production two years ago, the protective materials division of the 3M Company has said it is to relaunch its Scotchgard water and stain repellent product in the autumn.
Other than the name and what its does, the new Scotchgard will be completely different from the old, which has been supplied from stock since production stopped in March 2000. The main change being that now it cannot break down into perfluorooctanyl sulfonate - otherwise known as PFOS – a substance that lingers in the environment and the reason why the old product was phased out in the first place.
Based on proprietary fluorochemicals, the new product is proven not to accumulate in living organisms, 3M company says. A new product for leather upholstery and apparel will be launched globally in September. The new Scotchgard protector for leather products will replace current 3M products: wet end operations (FC-3573), aqueous finishing operations (FC-3583) and solvent based finishing operations.
