Why EXP?

Wool is once again undergoing a revival as a natural and sustainable fibre for outdoor wear, knitted garments and functional clothing. Increasingly demanding consumers are interested in knowing under what conditions their clothing is manufactured. They want to know what impact a product has on the environment, on the workers who manufacture it and on them as a customer. Previously an "insider" term, sustainability has now become an important product feature.

EXP stands for "EX-Pollution", or the avoidance of pollutants during the anti-felting treatment process. EXP is a revolutionary new process from the Schoeller Spinning Group that enables the wool to remain machine-washable without the use of chlorine. Schoeller has set a benchmark with this innovation and once again proven its commitment to ecological sustainability.

 

The process

Wool has a scaly surface, and as its fibres do not sit uniformly, they snag when they contact one another (1) . A warm, humid environment increases this effect and the wool becomes felted. Wool is treated in order to prevent this from happening.

The conventional process previously used involves smoothing these scales and then coating the chlorinated wool fibres with a wash-resistant film (2) . A substantial amount of AOX pollutant is released during this process. This results in environmental pollution and is directly attributable to the wool fibres. EXP completely avoids the use of chlorine and employs natural salts as an oxidization agent.

So you could say that EXP is a "revWOOLution" (3).

 
 

Sustainability for the future

bluesign®, GOTS & Eco-Tex Standard

Schoeller’s newly developed EXP wool treatment process meets the highest standards. The chlorine-free process uses less resources than conventional processes and is carried out reliably at the company’s European manufacturing site, meaning it is a truly all-round sustainable innovation.

EXP is the first wool finishing process in the world to meet the strict criteria of the "bluesign®" and "Global Organic Textile (GOTS)" standards, and it also conforms with the "Eco-Tex standard".