PFC (per- in poli-fluorirane kemikalije) so popolnoma umetne-kemikalije, ki se ne pojavljajo v naravi. Običajno se uporabljajo v DWR (trajni vodoodbojni) premazi in vodoodporne membrane. Te fluorokemikalije se že nekaj časa uporabljajo za dajanje oblačil odpornih na vodo in madeže. Do nedavnega je bilo alternativ zelo malo, zato je postalo očitno, da so PFC škodljivi za okolje, se je več pozornosti namenilo uporabi PFC, zlasti v sektorju dejavnosti na prostem.
V sektorju oblačil je veliko virov PFC, vendar se več kot polovica najbolj nevarnih kemikalij PFC uporablja za vremensko odporna oblačila. Dejstvo, da smo na prostem in razumemo okolje bolj kot večina, bi moral biti dober razlog za vse navdušence na prostem, da upoštevajo in čim bolj upoštevajo te informacije. Z valom trajnostnih in okolju prijaznih vprašanj, ki pridobivajo vse večjo podporo in pokritost, je idealen čas, da podjetja v celoti posvetijo razvoj dogodkov na tem področju.
The awareness surrounding the effects of PFC's has grown as more research has been carried out. Once released into the environment PFCs break down very slowly; they can remain in the environment for many years after their release and are dispersed over the entire globe. They can affect both the wearer of the garment and the environment when it washes or rubs off jackets. It has accumulated in measurable levels in snow, ice and water around the world. For some PFCs there is evidence that they cause harm to reproduction, promote the growth of tumors and affect the hormone system.
For more information on the wide reaching impacts of PFCs Greenpeace carried out some extended research and the publication 'Sledi v snegu' details this truly global issue. From research like this pressure is starting to mount on outdoor brands particularly to lead the way in eliminating the use of PFCs but the problem of finding a high performance, waterproof alternative has been a stumbling block.
