Green-Tec
Sustainable Textiles and Laminates
Products in our catalog with this logo contain some or all of the sustainable textile trifecta!
Please enquire with your Challenge sales team for more
PFAS/PFAB free
Recycled Fabric
Challenge’s Marblehead Eco woven Dacron sailcloth is the world’s only sailcloth fabric made with 100% recycled fiber. Constructed with rPET fiber which has equal properties to the virgin polyesters used in other sailcloth. In our laminate sailcloth fabrics we also use rPET fiber in the taffeta’s, and in the polyester warp inserts. Challenge is the clear leader in this arena, having gone much further than anyone else and incorporating recycled materials across a wide range of products throughout our line. Challenge is using rPET fibers and taffetas in the vast majority of its laminated products.
Non-Toxic Adhesive
Our performance materials are laminated into composite fabrics using our proprietary adhesive, which does not contain toxic solvents or VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds). Other’s laminate with solvent based adhesives which are typically over 50% solvents by weight, which then need to be evacuated and are released into the atmosphere using energy intensive drying ovens. Others may claim to be ‘carbon neutral’ by buying carbon-offsets after polluting; Challenge has taken the progressive step of eliminating harmful chemicals from the start and using recycled materials instead of greenwashing “off-sets”.
Recycled Film
The proprietary Challenge RUV™ PET film is 100% recycled and 97% UV resistant. Challenge RUV™. Challenge is using this film in the vast majority its laminated products. In testing RUV™ film is always equal or superior to the virgin PET films others are using.
The Future is Now, and it Can’t Wait.
The legacy of Challenge Sailcloth spans four generations in the sailing textile industry. In 1917, our family founded Howe and Bainbridge, one of the first sailcloth companies in the USA. In the 1930s, DuPont® invented synthetic polyester and nylon fibers which we used to create the first Cordura® nylon mainsail cloth. Moving from tar-impregnated cotton sails to technical synthetic textiles started a new era of sailboat racing and innovation. We’ve been leaders at the forefront of textile innovation for over 100 years. Looking forward, our focus is entirely on sustainability within the textile industry.
In 2020, Challenge Sailcloth launched a new company called Challenge Outdoor, spearheaded by world champion sailor and technical textiles expert, Hale Walcoff. Hale had a vision to produce light, durable, and UV resistant materials for the outdoor sports industry using 100% recycled polyester. He wanted to produce fabrics that were best in class for the industry while being environmentally friendly. Challenge Outdoor is dedicated to reducing real-world carbon emissions and promoting clean textile technology. As outdoor enthusiasts, it is our duty to tackle the climate crisis.
This project would not have been possible as recently as five years ago, because recycled and natural component manufacturers had not achieved the performance levels required in strenuous and demanding outdoor sports. Thankfully, the global community demanded green tech, and the investment followed. Moving full speed ahead, our development efforts will be focused on sustainable innovation across our product lines. This is our new race against the clock and a challenge to the industry. Solving the climate crisis requires world-wide collaboration and we welcome you to get on board.
Sustainability Starts with You
Energy-Efficient Manufacturing
Our textiles are produced at eco-friendly facilities powered by hydroelectric energy.
Our innovative manufacturing system eliminates expensive and energy intensive drying ovens, hot rooms for curing, and many other processes needed to laminate Nylon and Polyester with solvent-based adhesive.
We maintain stock in both the U.S. and Asia for better efficiency with our manufacturing partners and brands.