The two Swiss innovators for functional performance clothing, Odlo and HeiQ, are co-launching HeiQ Pure SPQR, a triple-action sustainable odour control technology, another addition to the HeiQ Fresh Tech product family.
Smelling fresh allows us to do what we like without having to worry about bad smell on our apparel. That insight brought these two companies together already 13 years ago, as HeiQ developed for Odlo an odour control textile finish that would last 100 washes – known as Effect by Odlo.
“Effect by Odlo set the standard for performance wear with effective odour control,” says Knut Are Høgberg, CEO of Odlo. “Great but not yet perfect means that we never stop refining the solution for our consumers.”
For the past three years, HeiQ and Odlo have been working to develop HeiQ Pure SPQR, which is the latest breakthrough in the HeiQ Fresh Tech product family.
“HeiQ Pure SPQR is made up of a very small amount of silver salt, as well as a bio-based amino sugar polymer,” says Colleen Nipkow, marketing director for North America at HeiQ. “This combination not only prevents odour generation from bacteria, but it also neutralises odour compounds developed from the environment.”
96.5% of the HeiQ Pure SPQR formulation comes from recycled and renewable sources and delivers a triple-action odour control efficiency.
Firstly, the technology contains only 0.14% of silver ions as active ingredients while most silver-based odour control treatments contain 1.4%, yet it is able to still effectively impair the metabolism of bacteria (the process that turns odourless sweat into body odour). This is due to the second action – bio-based amino sugar polymers anchor silver ions to amplify their performance and durability. And third, at a microscopic level, the amino sugar polymer creates a durable barrier film around the fibre, preventing odour compounds from sticking on the textile. Thus, garments can be washed easily at a low temperature, which extends the usable life of the garment and is more sustainable. Additionally, the product is Bluesign and Oeko-Tex approved.
“We have tested odour control treatments from multiple suppliers,” adds Høgberg. “The result from the Odlo-HeiQ co-innovation is by far better than anything else we find in the market today.”
Carlo Centonze, co-founder and CEO of HeiQ, adds: “It’s with great pride that we fulfil our promise to our late mentor Odd Lofteroed Jr to never give up and never be content with the status quo. Once again with Odlo we are one step ahead of our competitors in providing a better and more sustainable odour control solution.”
The technology will be engineered into Odlo’s spring/summer 2020 next-to-skin collection.
