Patagonia

Fluorinated DWR (durable water repellent) finishes help keep garments dry but contain environmentally harmful components.

Our durable water repellent (DWR) finish is a coating added to the fabric of our waterproof/weatherproof garments, which helps moisture bead up and roll off the outer fabric; this prevents soaking from the outside and the user becoming cold, clammy or wet, which could be life-threatening in extreme conditions.

Fluorinated DWR finish is a functional chemical coating containing PFCs (short for perfluorocarbons), that the outdoor industry has long relied on to make garments water-resistant. But, they’re nonbiodegradable chemicals with an environmental cost. PFCs are extremely effective at repelling water, but because of their impact, we are in the process of going PFAS-free* (per and polyfluoroalkyl substances) across our entire product line by 2024.

We are converting noncritical products with a DWR finish (around 90 % of our weather/waterproof garments) to become PFC free by Fall 2022, including items like insulation pieces, midlayers and some outerwear. For critical DWR applications, like a rain jacket you’d wear for 24 hours, we do not yet have a DWR solution that meets the functional needs of these garments. The brightest chemists are helping us to find a solution for this remaining 10% of our products.