What prompted Heraeus to establish a new business area in the textile industry?

- Heraeus entered the textile industry as part of our Open Innovation initiative by acquiring the AGXX technology from a Berlin-based start-up, says Martin Danz, Head of Antimicrobial Technologies. – Our capacity to scale up innovation means that we can meet the textile industry’s demands for accessible innovation in the volumes required to achieve change.

The main driver behind the decisionwas the growing demand for new antimicrobial and odor control solutions:

- Conventional technologies face significant challenges such as decreasing effectiveness over time. This is a consequence of the continuous release of potentially harmful substances and regulatory changes in Europe, especially under the ECHA review program, where more than 90% of silver ion technologies reviewed to date have not been approved.

By leveraging the expertise and resources of Heraeus, the portfolio of AGXX technology has been significantly expanded, enabling its application in textiles and other areas.

The textile industry is a major contributor to pollution, including wastewater and huge amounts of textile waste. Every year, 92 million tons of textile waste are produced, 73% of which ends up in land-fill or is incinerated (source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation).

- “Consumers face challenges when it comes to choosing climate-friendly products,” Danz adds. This is due to several factors. Choosing high-quality, sustainably produced products is an active choice that often comes with a higher price tag. Not everyone has the financial means or is willing to pay for this. However, investing in quality goes hand in hand with price and is reflected in the lifespan of the garments, ultimately reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. High-quality brands tend to ensure that their products are not treated with environmentally questionable or banned substances.

So what is the AGXX technology compared to a more traditional one? AGXX technology is an innovative antimicrobial and odor control technology that works in a fundamentally different way to conventional biocides. Unlike previously used silver technologies, AGXX does not rely on releasing silver ions or other toxic or environmentally harmful substances. Instead, the technology works by catalytically converting moisture and oxygen into reactive oxygen species, known as ROS, which effectively eliminate microorganisms and odors.

- “The technology provides superior antimicrobial and disinfectant efficacy and can withstand over 100 wash cycles,” continues Martin Danz. ”AGXX can be seamlessly integrated into garments according to standardized treatment processes or as part of different fiber compositions.”

What is the EU legislation on biocides in textiles? Does Heraeus have an advantage over its competitors and if so, what is it?

Yes, definitely. The Biocides Regulation (BPR) introduced in 2012 is crucial for the textile industry, especially when it comes to antimicrobial substances. The BPR not only defines the process for new antimicrobial technologies but also initiated a comprehensive review of all existing antimicrobial technologies through ECHA's review program.

- “As of 1 April, the review of silver ion-based technologies indicates that most will be banned, with only four percent approved and 53 percent rejected to date,” says Martin Danz. Heraeus AGXX technology offers a significant advantage thanks to its unique mechanism of action and meets the requirements of the BPR both now and in the future.