Ultrafabrics, global leader in high - tech performance fabrics announces it's five years ahead of sustainability targets. The 2023 Sustainability Report outlines bold future goals to empower designers

NEW YORK - Ultrafabrics, the global leader in high-tech performance fabric across 11 industries, has released its third annual sustainability report completed and documented analysis shows the company is five years ahead of already bold targets set in 2020. 

Japanese-crafted and New York-based, Ultrafabrics has long been a partner to future forward architecture and design brands across the globe, including MillerKnoll, Steelcase, Kimball, Andreu World and Woodard. The company offers the architecture and design community its 2023 sustainability report as a comprehensive tool that helps specifiers to know exactly where Ultrafabrics products fall in the often-confusing sustainability landscape. 

Sustainability without Sacrifice in Design 

Nicole Meier, Director of Branding, sets the tone for the report. “Ultrafabrics is unrivalled in the performance fabric market. From quality and ingredients to performance, warranty, and sustainability, we outperform our competitors. We also understand that leading the race is not good enough, we are setting goals that have never been achieved before by an ingredient brand in our category. The designers and specifiers that work with us understand the power and massive environmental impact their choices have on the world. They understand when they are designing a hospital, a hotel development, or a global line of furniture it has impact on the world we will leave to our children. With this independent report and deep dive into the metrics of our sustainability goals, we want to say to our partners, you can achieve sustainability without sacrificing quality and performance and we can scale to meet the needs of a global audience. We’ve turned the lights on to expose our end-to-end production process. Let us walk you through it and help you achieve your goals.”

At Ultrafabrics, sustainability goals have a clear framework so designers can trust the information, and understand it quickly and easily

To set goals and hold itself accountable, Ultrafabrics has set up a clear, three-tiered sustainability framework not only to track progress but to clearly show architects, designers, and specifiers where they are in the process. The sustainability landscape is ripe with greenwashing and sleight of hand declarations. This framework creates a simple and holistic way to communicate vital information and ensure accountability.

01 Product Quality and Health

Maintaining the brand's high quality and performance is paramount in Ultrafabrics’ sustainability journey, as it carefully guards its reputation for impeccable fabrication, haptics, and durability. Safe chemistry in the Ultrafabrics production process is critical for a circular and healthy future not only for the brand, but for the entire textile industry.

• In 2022 Ultrafabrics completed the work to become 100% PFOA - free (PFOAs and PFASs are commonly referred to as ‘forever chemicals’) within its entire branded product portfolio. 
• As of the end of 2022, 90% of Ultrafabrics products are PFAS-free. In 2023, they will be continuing trials with replacement ingredients, in an effort to identify non-PFAS solutions, and have set a target to be completely PFAS-free by 2025.
• It currently recovers and recycles over 98% of solvents used in manufacturing, minimizing their environmental impact from chemistry and reducing waste.
• Quality Design for Longevity: Ultrafabrics works to provide long-lasting products that surpass the expectations of its customers. The more durable the products, the less frequently they will need to be replaced or repaired, and the raw materials, energy, and environmental impacts embedded in them can be spread out over more time. The product hydrolysis testing process has gone from 14 to 16 weeks. They also have extended the warranty from 2 years to 5 years after the product ships. 
• The team conducts a yearly comprehensive review of restricted substances. The following are excluded from the Ultrafabrics branded product portfolio:

• Bisphenol A (BPA)

• Conflict Minerals

• Flame Retardants 

• Heavy Metal Stabilizers

• PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic Acid)

• Plasticizer Phthalates

• POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants)

• PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)

02 Material Innovation

Material innovation calls for the development of next-generation fabrics that limit the use of non-renewable ingredients while improving the sustainability of existing fibers and advancing the newest plant-based and recycled resources.  

• By 2025, all Ultrafabrics products sold to furniture, healthcare, recreational vehicle, marine, aviation, and accessories markets will have at least 50% rapidly renewable and/or recycled materials. This is being achieved five years ahead of the company’s original goal.
• By 2030, the Uf Select portfolio and applicable transportation-grade materials will also have at least 50% rapidly renewable and/or recycled materials.
• Ultrafabrics commits to maintaining 3% or less waste intensity — meaning that 3% or less of the yardage we produce each year goes to landfill or is recycled. 

Rapidly Renewable Materials are materials that can be replenished at a rate equal to or greater than the rate of depletion. These are typically agricultural and forestry products with a harvest cycle of 10 years or less with strong traceability. Recycled Materials contain recycled content from pre- or post-consumer sources.

Certification includes: 

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC),

Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), 

Programme for the Enforcement of Forestry Certification (PEFC)

CanopyStyle audits. 

Backcloths and partnerships with the best fiber options from around the world

Premium backcloths are key to the wear, durability and performance of Ultrafabrics products whether it's upholstered on a luxury chair, acoustic wall or automotive seating. The brand has strategically introduced three key ingredients to achieve its goal of sustainability without sacrifice. As of the end of 2022, 51% of the Ultrafabrics branded product portfolio contains at least 50% rapidly renewable and/or recycled inputs. 

Sustainable and Recycled Yarns – Around 70% of the Ultrafabrics portfolio will include recycled and responsibly-sourced resources. This includes recycled polyester that is derived from pre- and post- consumer plastic waste and rayon fibers that are transparently sourced from various, sustainably managed FSC and PEFC-certified forests. Ultrafabrics will be utilizing established, reputable brands within their material innovations. One yard of fabric will contain 8 plastic recycled bottles. (7.5 bottles per metre) 

Bio-based Resources – In 2019, Ultrafabrics introduced their first biobased collection, Volar Bio, which touts a 29%. USDA BioPreferred Program label. The collection reduces dependence on finite resources by including wood-pulp and corn-derived resins, and does this without detracting from food supply or agricultural land use.

Energy Conservation, Climate Impact and Water Conservation 

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions are paramount to slowing the negative impacts of climate change. Ultrafabrics is committed to reducing its footprint throughout its global operations and aligning with the Paris Agreement with a goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. The brand is committed to reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions 42% by 2030.

Water is also an important resource throughout the textile production process. As a finite resource, water consumption is an important environmental consideration, and wastewater pollution is a key environmental and public health concern when it comes to textile manufacturing. In 2022, Ultrafabrics reached its 20% water intensity reduction target from a goal set in 2020. 

03 Transparency and Accountability 

The integrity of supply chains continues to be a growing demand in the textile industry. Ultrafabrics have committed to thorough transparency and traceability throughout its entire supply chain. In 2022, the brand completed its first full cycle of assessments, reviewing over 99% of its suppliers.

Nicole Meier rounds out the intention of Ultrafabrics and its commitment to going above and beyond with this comprehensive report. “By opening our doors to this independent assessment and creating these goals, it's another tool to empower designers to create with confidence, and that is what this is about. We can make this product, but it’s the designers that are the true pioneers who are building the future. We want them to know, we’ve left no stone unturned in this process to be transparent. In a landscape of increasingly complex certifications, you can rely on Ultrafabrics to achieve sustainability without sacrificing quality or performance.”  

Ends

Editors notes

The full Ultrafabrics 2023 Sustainability Report is available upon request. 

Nicole Meier, Director of Branding is available for interviews 

ABOUT ULTRAFABRICS 

Ultrafabrics is a range of premium materials that are reshaping the world of high tech performance fabrics. Crafted in its Japanese mill using the proprietary production process, Takumi (meaning artisan) Technology, the company’s passion is the creation of unrivalled sensorial experiences. 

Ultrafabrics’ continuous investment in innovation, research and development has resulted in a range of polyurethanes suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. The brand’s growing client list of luxury brands spans many industries, from residential and contract furniture, to upholstery for cars, yachts, airlines and private jets.