Sympatex at Techtextil 2026

The focus will be on two material developments: the use of Fiber2Fiber laminates in the series production of uniforms for the French postal service La Poste, and a new membrane generation with a significantly increased share of bio-based raw materials.

Both developments illustrate how functional performance, industrial scalability and the gradual reduction of fossil resources can be combined in material design.

Textile-to-textile in industrial use: Fiber2Fiber laminates for La Poste uniforms

With the new service uniforms for the French postal service La Poste, a functional Fiber2Fiber (F2F) laminate reaches a new stage of industrial application in the corporate and workwear segment. The collection includes jackets and trousers designed for a range of working conditions and is based on polyester-based monomaterial laminate constructions specifically developed with recyclability in mind.

The 2-layer and 3-layer laminates developed by Sympatex combine reliable weather protection with high breathability and mechanical robustness – properties that are essential for everyday professional use.

By consistently using polyester-based monomaterials, design-for-recycling principles are already considered at material level, creating an important foundation for future textile-to-textile recycling solutions. At the same time, recycled textile raw materials derived from post-consumer textiles are already used in the La Poste collection in line with Fiber2Fiber approaches. Particularly in the field of professional clothing – a segment characterised by large volumes – this creates relevant scaling potential for circular material flows.

“Seeing a large public institution such as La Poste include recyclability as a criterion in a tender process shows that circular material concepts are increasingly becoming part of market requirements. At the same time, the project demonstrates that high-performance functional materials and design-for-recycling approaches can already be combined today,” says Kim Scholze, CEO of Sympatex.

New membrane generation: approx. 65% bio-based raw material share in the polymer

Another focus at Techtextil 2026 is a new membrane generation in which the share of bio-based raw materials in the polymer has been significantly increased.

Through close collaboration with partners along the supply chain, the share of bio-based raw materials – based on a recognised mass balance approach – has been increased from previously around 25% to more than 65% for selected polymer and membrane types.

Under the mass balance approach, bio-based feedstocks are introduced into existing chemical production processes, and their share is allocated to specific products through certified accounting methods. This enables a gradual substitution of fossil raw materials without changing the chemical structure, performance or recyclability of the material. The increased bio-based share therefore refers to the material itself – specifically to chemical building blocks of the polymer – rather than to the energy used in the production process.

“The increased bio-based share does not change the chemical structure or performance of the membrane. It remains waterproof, windproof, breathable, elastic, PFAS-free and fully polyester-based, making it compatible with monomaterial laminate constructions. For our partners, this means no additional development work and no need to requalify existing products. In addition to environmental considerations, increasing the share of alternative feedstocks also contributes to improving supply chain resilience by reducing dependence on raw materials that may become subject to external constraints,” explains Martin Mayershofer, membrane development expert at Sympatex.

The development builds on existing bio-based membrane solutions, where a share of approx. 25% has already shown a measurable reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to purely fossil-based polymers.

Membranes with an increased bio-based share are expected to become commercially available in laminates during the course of 2026. Calculations regarding the resulting CO₂ reduction are currently being finalised.

You can find more information about the Sympatex membrane here or at the bottom of this page in the ‘Download’ section.

Membrane technology for functional applications

Sympatex develops membranes and laminates for functional apparel, footwear, corporate and workwear as well as technical applications. The hydrophilic, non-porous membrane is based on polyester and engineered to be PFAS-free.

By combining monomaterial laminate constructions, increasing shares of recycled and bio-based raw materials, and design approaches that support recyclability, Sympatex aims to contribute to the long-term development of material cycles and to gradually reduce dependence on fossil resources.

Visitors to Techtextil will gain insights into current developments in:

• monomaterial laminate constructions
• textile-to-textile recycling approaches
• polyester-based membrane technology
• applications for apparel, footwear, corporate & workwear and technical end uses

At the Bayern Innovativ joint stand (Hall 12 / D97), Sympatex will present current developments in high-performance membrane and laminate constructions, illustrating how functional performance can be combined with recyclability and a reduced reliance on fossil resources.

About Sympatex Technologies GmbH

Sympatex Technologies GmbH has been developing and producing non-porous membrane technology in Europe since 1986. The membranes are used in functional apparel, footwear, workwear, personal protective equipment, and technical applications. The company is internationally positioned through a network of brand, industry, and product development partners.

The membrane technology is PFAS-free, polyester-based, and the technological core of the company. Selected variants have bio-based content and are available in various material thicknesses. The membrane is waterproof, windproof, breathable, and elastic, meeting the requirements of demanding industrial applications.

On this basis, Sympatex develops functional, mono-material polyester and fibre-to-fibre laminates with a focus on recyclability. Early investments in circular concepts, a strong commitment to transparency, and the collaborative transfer of the teams’ accumulated technological expertise shape the company’s sustainable product development.