SGS Develops Testing Service for Silicone-Based Dry-Cleaning

SGS has developed a new garment silicone-based dry-cleaning testing service. Working with GreenEarth Cleaning LLC to create the service, the new test can assess the appearance, dimensional stability and hand feel of the garment following washing in the environmentally friendly dry-cleaning system.
Traditional dry-cleaning systems use a chemical solvent called perchloroethylene - ‘perc’. This chemical is now classified as a hazardous substance. The US Enivronmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists ‘perc’ as a toxic air pollutant that is known or suspected to cause cancer and other harmful health effects, as well as environmental damage. Because of this government bodies, such as the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the US EPA and the French Ministry of Environment and French Health & Labour Ministry, are now beginning to introduce regulations to phase out ‘perc’ dry-cleaning.
GreenEarth’s drycleaning system uses a silicone-based solvent, instead of perchloroethylene. The silcone-based solvent, decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5), is clear, odorless and non-toxic, when used in a closed loop system. D5 is currently approved by CARB and the Department of Environmental Conservation of New York State as an alternative to “perc’ solvents. Worldwide, there are now more than 1,600 drycleaners using D5, with some retailers and brands adopted a dry-cleaning process based on D5 solvent for their garments.
In addition to the health and environmental benefits of using a silicone-based dry-cleaning system, studies have also shown this system offers better garment care performance because it causes less damage to plastic trims and printing. Comparison tests between ‘perc’ and silicone-based systems have shown that both systems offer similar protections against colour fading, bleeding and dimensional change, and in the majority of stain removal tests both systems were comparable.
From the customer perspective, a dry-cleaning system is only as good as the results it shows on the garment or textile. SGS also offers a consultancy service to evaluate the suitability of the new dry-cleaning process on garments and textile products, helping businesses ensure their products remain presentable after using the GreenEarth dry-cleaning system.

SGS Textile & Clothing Services
SGS has an extensive network of over 40 laboratories worldwide, with a team of committed professionals from multi-disciplinary backgrounds. Our internationally accredited state-of-the-art testing laboratories offer a comprehensive range of physical, chemical and functional testing services for components, materials and finished products. We help your company ensure quality, performance and compliance with international, industrial and regulatory standards worldwide. Learn more about SGS’s Textile & Clothing Services (www.sgs.com/en/consumer-goods-retail/softlines-and-accessories/textile-and-clothing)

SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full Cleaning Performance Comparison of Silicone and Perchloroethylene Drycleaning Solvents SafeGuardS. (www.sgs.com/en/news/2016/10/safeguards-16216-cleaning-performance-comparison-of-silicone)

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For further information contact:

Louann Spirito
Director Technical Support, Softlines
Tel: (+1) 973 461 7919
Email: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/softlines

About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 85,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,800 offices and laboratories around the world.

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This release was published on openPR.