Environmentally friendly and insect repellent – these are the two key features of a high-tech new uniform developed in a partnership between pioneering textile innovators Affix Labs, with its Repeltec technology, Waste2Wear and Logonet. The uniform has been designed to commemorate 60 years of ground-breaking research by the legendary primatologist Jane Goodall and the hard work carried out by the scientists and rangers at the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) in Gombe, Tanzania.
2020 has highlighted the delicate balance between people, animals and our planet and the true dedication and commitment of the rangers was never more apparent than during the COVID-19 lockdown in the region. The rangers, who protect the endangered chimpanzees in Gombe, continued to work through the daunting challenges caused by the pandemic to ensure that all the animals were adequately protected.
People and the natural world are intrinsically linked and we need to respect that relationship now, more than ever. Affix Labs, Waste2Wear and Logonet share this philosophy and produced and donated these new uniforms to the Jane Goodall Institute to aid their incredible work. The uniforms use Waste2Wear’s soft and durable recycled polyester cotton fabric, made from recycled plastic bottles, incorporate Repeltec, that binds an environmentally friendly yet highly durable ingredient to textiles making them actively insect repellent without killing the insects, and were designed by Logonet a leader in the field of uniform design.
They are not only practical but have a positive impact on the environment and the wearer. Eco-friendly, Repeltec protects wearers from the diseases spread by biting insects twice over by reducing insect landings and disorienting them so they cannot bite. It is designed to replace the widely used, but hazardous, permethrin, with the added advantage of also creating a halo effect around the garment. Using Waste2Wear’s polyester textile saves considerable natural resource requirements compared to the manufacture of traditional textiles and prevents plastics ending up in landfill.
Founder of Waste2Wear, Monique Maissan, has always been passionate about creating high quality products that help to preserve our planet, saying: “It is a privilege to donate these uniforms and t-shirts to the Jane Goodall Institute in recognition of the truly valuable work they do to protect chimpanzees, other animals and our planet.”
In an environmental study, the production of these uniforms saved 2,484 PET bottles from ending up in landfill; 2,347 litres of water which would take one person 2 years to consume, 188kg of CO2 which would take 8 years for one tree to absorb, and 2,527Mj of energy which is enough to fuel a light bulb for 2 years.
Using this innovative fabric, Finnish company, Logonet designed the comfortable and easy to wear uniforms for the rangers using their extensive knowledge of the functional ergonomics of Tropical Workwear. Each garment has been treated with eco-friendly ‘Repeltec’, created by Affix Labs, which is a non-toxic insect repellent safe to use on skin. Repeltec itself does not kill insects, instead it inhibits them from landing by creating a halo effect on the clothing in which it is embedded. These uniforms are the ideal marriage of three companies and one amazing organisation. Each, in their own way, is ground-breaking in their field and believe in doing good for our planet.
www.affixlabs.com
