SRTX | Lab test 05

THE

LAB

TEST 05

Studying the relative environmental impact of Sheertex Classic tights vs. competitors

Dave Cox

Senior Staff Technologist
SRTX Labs

ABSTRACT

Using surveys, analysis and testing, we show the reduced environmental impact of Sheertex Classic Tights via three key measures - lower carbon consumption via increased number of wears, zero PFOS content, and lower microplastics per wash and dry cycle.

I- INTRODUCTION

In 2018 in the United States, 17 million tons of textile waste ended up in landfills [2], not accounting for waste sent overseas for processing or disposal [3]. Fast fashion and the rise of single-wear clothing items are major contributors to the lack of sustainability in the fashion industry. Billions of sheer tights are sold annually. According to one report, 72% of users wear their tights no more than 6 times [1] before disposing of them due to holes or laddering.

Using more rip-resistant raw materials increases the overall durability of the final garments and leads to a lower environ- mental impact, as fewer garments will need to be bought as replacements for products that have reached their end of life. Leveraging environmentally-sustainable production processes while ensuring fair working conditions contribute towards a cleaner and more sustainable hosiery industry overall.

Accordingly, SRTX investigated the carbon emissions re- lated to producing and shipping Sheertex tights as compared to its competitors that produce tights with shorter lifespans.

Garments which do not contain PFOS and which release fewer plastic fragments per wash are less detrimental to the environment. As such, we investigated the release of mi- croplastics stemming from washing and drying our products, and tested for the presence of PFOS (Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid). The latter is a chemical which undergoes virtually no environmental degradation, and is linked to a variety of negative health outcomes [4].

II- HYPOTHESIS

We believe that Sheertex Classic Rip-Resist Tights’ carbon impact is at least five times lower than that of competing brands with a similar look and feel.

We believe that Sheertex Classic Rip-Resist Tights release five times less microplastics per wash than competing tights with a similar look and feel.

We believe that there is no evidence of PFOS presence in Sheertex Classic Rip-Resist Tights.

III- METHODS

To understand the impact of more durable tights, two studies were considered in this report: (1), an SRTX-led survey [5] (n=788) of Sheertex customers reporting their number of wears and reason for discontinuing wear, and (2) a survey of the tights market by HOP (Halte a` l’Obsolescence Programme ́e — Stop Planned Obsolescence) [1] (n=3000) asking similar questions.

SRTX commissioned a life cycle analysis (LCA) of Sheer- tex Classic Medium tights from Hedgehog who assessed the overall environmental impact per pair of tights. Because production details of competitors are not readily available, Hedgehog presumed that our competitors manufacture with similar processes as our own.

Sheertex Classic tights were also tested by Intertek, an external lab, to analyze PFOS content, in accordance with the standardized test CEN/TS 15968 [7]

Finally, a study was carried out to compare the microplastic fragments released during a wash cycle of Sheertex Classic Tights against those of competitor tights having similar sheer- ness and appearance, using the standardized test AATCC TM 212-2021 [8].

IV- ANALYSIS

Fig. 1. Bar graph showing number of wears reported by consumers in an internal survey.

CARBON IMPACT

From the SRTX survey [5], and as illustrated in Fig. 1, a pair of Sheertex Classic tights is worn on average 40 times before being discarded. This was calculated by averaging the number of wears for each category of response, multiplying this number by the number of respondents who indicated this number of wears, and dividing by the total number of respondents.

From the HOP report [1], we can see that 72% of the time, competitor tights are worn an average of four times before being discarded. Given 40 average wears per pair from the SRTX survey [5], this indicates that a pair of Sheertex Classic tights is worn about ten times more than competitors.

Assuming, as discussed above, that the relative impact of production is somewhat similar, we find that Sheertex Classic tights draw an average of 27.29MJ per pair, vs. competitor tights at 451MJ.

Microplastics Release

In order to better understand the degree of microplastics release in comparison to competitors, an external lab trial was run to measure the release of microplastics following AATCC TM 202-2021. The competitor tights, selected for similarity in sheerness and appearance were found to release 0.856% of their mass per wash and dry cycle. By comparison, Sheertex Classic tights were found to release 0.072% mass per wash. This is a nearly 12-fold reduction in released particulates.

PFOS Content

PFOS testing was carried out externally and no PFOS, nor its salts or compounds, were found in Sheertex tights.

This result indicates that Sheertex tights (Brand 1) are at least 240 times more abrasion resistant than any of the chosen competitor tights.

V- CONCLUSION

Sheertex Classic tights can be clearly shown to have a far lower environmental impact than its competitors. The increased energy and fossil fuel usage needed to supply more pairs of disposable tights to the average consumer creates a vastly greater environmental footprint than purchasing a garment that can be used over and over again.

When considering the impact of Sheertex tights post- purchase, consumers consider the release of microplastics from each wash cycle. When examined against competitors using standard test procedures, we see a nearly 12-fold reduction in the amount of released particulate.

While at this time we do not have PFOS content numbers for competitor tights, it is worth noting that our production process and materials do not involve these dangerous and under-reported substances.

VI- ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Many thanks to Amy Dam, Amanda Fleury, and Charlotte Fauqueux for their assistance with editing and adding clarity to this report.

REFERENCES

[1]

L’associationHalte à l’ObsolescenceProgrammée (HOP)-Collants:cas d’obsolescence programmée?

[2]

Environmental Protection Agency. Textiles: Material-Specific Data. EPA. Retrieved December 11, 2022, from https://www.epa.gov/facts- and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/textiles-material- specific-data

[3]

Alden Wicker (2017, March 16). No one wants your old clothes. Newsweek. Retrieved December 11, 2022, from https://www.newsweek.com/2016/09/09/old-clothes-fashion-waste- crisis-494824.html

[4]

Wikimedia Foundation. (2022, December 20). Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. Wikipedia. Retrieved December 20, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki
/Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid

[5]

Sheertex. (2022). Consumer Behaviour Survey.

[6]

Grand View Research. Hosiery Market Size, Share & Trends AnalysisReport By Product (Sheer, Non-sheer), By Application (Women, Men).

[7]

Determination of extractable perfluorooctanesulphonate (PFOS) in coated and impregnated solid articles, liquids and fire fighting foams - Method for sampling, extraction and analysis by LC-qMS or LC-tandem/MS, CEN/TS 15968:2010

[8]

Test Method for Fiber Fragment Release During Home Laundering,
AATCC TM212-2021

LAB TESTS

TEST 01-

MODIFIED BALL BURST-STYLE TESTING FOR HIGHWAY ELASTIC TEXTILES

TEST 02-

MODIFIED ABRASION TESTING OF SHEER KNIT TEXTILES USING SIMULATED MOVEMENT AND WEAR SCENARIOS

TEST 03-

COMPARING THE TENSILE STRENGTH OF HIGHLY ELASTIC CIRCULAR KNIT TEXTILES BEFORE AND AFTER DAMAGE THE NIT STRUCTURE

TEST 04-

TENSILE STRENGTH TESTING AND COMPARISON OF COMMON HOSIERY YARNS, SHEERTEX AND STEEL

TEST 05-

STUDYING THE RELATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF SHEERTEX CLASSIC TIGHTS VS COMPETITORS

TEST 06-

RELATIVE COMPARISON OF SEAM STRENGTH FOR SHEERTEX CLASSIC TIGHTS VS COMPETITORS

THIS WORK IS FUNDED BY SRTX LABS.