Quality made in Germany For the Global Down Market

 January 2016

Peter Kohl and Nikwax break new sustainable ground in Europe with a commitment to exclude PFCs from their processes

Peter Kohl are a substantial, central European-based, supplier of high quality Down to the Outdoor Industry. With over 100 years of experience in providing high quality processing, they adhere to the certified Responsible Down Standards, to ensure down has been ethically sourced.

Peter Kohl was the first Down finishing company in Europe to install the Nikwax process for producing Nikwax Hydrophobic Down (NHD). NHD is a highly water-resistant form of down which is produced in an environmentally friendly way, without persistent chemicals such as PFCs.

Now Peter Kohl are confirming their commitment to innovation and sustainable production by signing an agreement with Nikwax whereby they will ensure that PFC (fluorocarbon water repellents) are excluded form every part of the Peter Kohl production process. This will mean that NHD from Peter Kohl can be used, in future, by brands who want to progress their commitment to zero PFC in production, and Zero Hazardous Discharge.

Down is the optimum material for very cold conditions, providing exceptional insulation for the absolute minimum weight. But until recently its big drawback has been its vulnerability to water. When normal down gets wet and it loses all of its ability to keep you warm. However, Nikwax Hydrophobic Down provides the optimum outdoor insulation solution – water-resistance, low weight, and high insulation, without the use of hazardous persistent chemicals.

• You can shake NHD with water for 1000 minutes and it still will not sink.
• You can wash it at least 5 times with Nikwax Down Wash Direct and it will maintain its water-resistant and insulation properties.
• Therefore NHD is not only a high performance material, but also a material that will give you a long and useful life.

Nick Brown, CEO of Nikwax said Peter Kohl have been a fantastic partner for this project and have cooperated at all levels in term of development. This is a highly important step on the road to showing that the best available technology can also be the most sustainable technology, and moving PFC products out of the outdoor market.”

Jürgen Sandvoss, Head of Outdoor Sales at Peter Kohl said “We have been highly impressed with the waterproof performance of the Nikwax Hydrophobic Down., and this has encouraged us to make this commitment to zero PFC in our production. We know that ultimately all of the Outdoor brands want to take the most sustainable route, so we believe that this is not only a good moral decision, but a good business one too, and excellent for the consumer.”

Nikwax has pioneered the move away from polluting PFC water repellents and continues to demonstrate that high performance waterproofing can be achieved with minimum environmental effect. Nikwax Hydrophobic Down can only be produced with materials that have been screened for ethical sourcing, so the Nikwax brand wraps up sustainability and animal welfare under one banner.