Fulgar, a leading Italian manufacturer of nylon and coated yarns, has attracted interest from leading brands in the Northern Europe and the US, with its green programme, strictly-regulated certification and specialities that combine performance and sustainability.

In particular, the company’s Q-Nova yarn, made from regenerated raw materials, has been supported and adopted by many companies, especially in the circular knit, legwear and woven material sector – for the clothing, intimate wear and sportswear industry.

One of the latest brands to have adopted Q-Nova in its products is Arket, a brand owned by Swedish H&M Group, promoting the democratisation of quality through accessible, well-made and long-lasting products. For example, the recycled melange version of Q-Nova with recycled polyester from bottles is used in the brand’s seamless yoga collection. 

Traceability and sustainability

“In recent years the Nordic style has influenced the way we furnish our interiors, how we think and even our way of being. Everyone looks towards Northern Europe and its qualities of balance, clean lines and an intense commitment to green issues,” the company reports. “This orientation is also reflected by lifestyles in all areas, from food to clothing. More and more consumers are seeking clothing that is not only fashionable and high-performance but also ethical and, above all, eco-sustainable.”

“This trend is growing in strength and cannot be ignored by companies who wish to stake a claim to future success. It is increasingly important that companies can ensure full traceability for their garments and collaborate with reliable partners who are environmentally aware and open to innovation and environmental matters.” A number of northern European, Anglo-Saxon and North American companies are now choosing specialities from Fulgar’s portfolio like Q-Nova and Evo, a bio-based yarn made from castor oil.

Saving resources

For a number of years, Fulgar has been pursuing a wide-ranging green programme involving the production process and the product offer. This environmentally-aware model earned Fulgar a special mention in the annual report published by Green Italy 2017, produced by Symbola and Unioncamere with the patronage of the Environment Ministry. Fulgar’s commitment in this area has led to the development of eco-sustainable products like Evo and Q-Nova.

Launched five years ago, Q-Nova was the first speciality to be developed by Fulgar in this field. This eco-sustainable yarn also makes the company’s production processes more sustainable, leading to lower CO2 emissions and water consumption. Q-Nova is made exclusively from regenerated raw materials through a mechanical process that uses no chemical materials that could compromise the sustainability of the end product.

“In 2017 alone, the Q-Nova recycling system enabled savings of over eleven million litres of water,” the company explains. “If the growth in demand for Q-Nova yarn reaches 30% in 2018, more than 15 million litres of water will be saved.”

Q-Nova by Fulgar

The yarn has also been developed to offer functional and aesthetic advantages, including lightness, good moisture management, keeping the skin cool and dry, and resistance and bright colours. The dye colour yield achieves the same solidity levels as those achieved with virgin polyamide, according to the manufacturer.

As early as 2013, this product was granted European Ecolabel EU and international Global Recycled Standard certification in recognition of the recycling system and the amount of water recycled. 

In 2017 Fulgar submitted its entire production process to an environmental impact assessment using the scientific Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method. The Q-Nova yarn was included on the Higg Index, an instrument developed by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) to evaluate the environmental impact of a garment’s entire lifecycle.

www.fulgar.com