PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” are a group of more than 4,700 fluorochemicals, widely used in everything from cleaning agents to nonstick cookware to finishing and protecting fabrics because of their remarkable resistance to water and oil.
And while that may offer a powerful promise, there is a problem.
“The issue is that these compounds persist in the environment and may pose risks to human health,” said Brian Lattimer, head of the Virginia Tech University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, and a leading expert in the field.
Not surprisingly, many states impose laws regulating PFAS.
This leaves companies that would normally require the use of PFAS, but are wary about the consequences, looking for a more environmentally friendly solution.
Enter SBI Fine Fabric Finishing ((https://sbifinishing.com/), a Texas company that has become a leader when it comes to delivering PFAS-free solutions in the fabric finishing niche of the textile industry.
“We have been offering PFAS-Free finishing solutions for years at a comparable price to traditional options,” said SBI Finishing’s Chief Operating Officer Daniel Banks. “We have decades of experience on the factory floor, utilizing advanced in-house equipment.”
SBI Finishing’s emphasis on PFAS-Free represents perfect timing. Banks said he has marked increase in demand for these environmentally friendly solutions.
One such design services company, based in California, is Staprans Design (https://www.stapransdesign.com/).
“We have a diverse clientele across the country, who not only expect us to create interiors that embrace, energize and soothe in a sublime way, but also want environmentally friendly options at a price point that is similar to what they would pay for traditional options,” said Sarah Graves, Project Manager at Staprans Design. “We take great pride in being able to meet their needs.”
This is just the tip of the iceberg, according to Banks. He attributes the interest in SBI Finishing’s PFAS-Free solutions to the company’s long-standing commitment.
“Being environmentally friendly is something that has been on our radar since my dad started the company decades ago,” said Banks. “PFAS-free is the logical extension of that philosophy.”
The decision to embrace PFAS-free was made not only in recognition of environmental issues, but to provide its customers with more options.
“It has been a hallmark of the company my father, Gene Banks, started,” he said. “Besides the commitment to PFAS-free, we also reuse our chemicals, when possible, rather than just returning them to the earth after one use. We also filter unused chemicals to minimize waste. Finally, we mix our solutions very precisely and on as-needed basis to ensure minimal waste.”
Banks, who gained experience in the chemistry field before taking over the day-to-day operations of the company in 2022, acknowledged that the traditional PFAS solution is more effective in some areas than PFAS-free at the moment. “But I’m optimistic that the industry will get there one day and that there won’t even be a need for a PFAS designation. Until then, we take great pride in being the go-to company for the traditional approach as well as PFAS-free finishing.”
And leading companies like Staprans Design are taking notice of that commitment.
“We have been a consistent buyer of SBI’s PFAS Free service,” said Graves of Staprans Design. “The company delivers on a promise of prompt delivery at an affordable price. In turn, this gives us an advantage over other design firms, who are working with industry partners who struggle to deliver on that promise.”
Ultimately, Banks hopes that the federal government will get more involved in assessing the chemicals that make up PFAS, providing more thoughtful, objective direction to the states and the industry.
“We need clarity,” Banks said. But until then, SBI will continue doing what it has been doing for years, satisfying the needs of both sets of customers.
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