A sustainable solution for cleaner coated fabrics

This company produces recyclable coated textiles that won’t leach chemicals or microplastics

Spotted: Look around your home, school, or work and you’ll likely see many types of PVC vinyl-coated fabrics, from billboards and tarps to sports equipment. These coated fabrics contain toxic plasticisers that leach dangerous chemicals into the environment and are a common source of microplastic pollution.

To tackle this, Renegade Plastics has developed a more sustainable alternative that could replace many plastic-coated fabrics. The company has built a circular economy for coated materials based on its proprietary polypropylene-coated fabric.

The company’s material is non-toxic and is free from harmful chemicals like phthalates, dioxins, and heavy metals. It can also be recycled, to keep products like tarps and raincoats from piling up in landfills. It is also 30 to 40 per cent lighter than equivalent strength PVC and its manufacture generates around half the emissions of PVC fabrics. In addition to their sustainability, Renegade’s fabrics also have high UV, thermal, and chemical resistance.

In May 2024, Renegade raised an undisclosed amount in a pre-seed investment round led by Schneider Resources Holding and the investment will be used to help accelerate Renegade’s growth into new markets. The company also recently partnered with agricultural manufacturer Herculite to produce sustainable barn curtains for use in livestock farming.

Tackling the world’s plastic mountain is the focus of a number of recent innovations, including a cling film alternative made from bio-waste and a microbe that breaks down plastic.

Written By: Lisa Magloff