PFCS – AND HOW SCHÖFFEL USES THEM

There's so much talk about PFCs. But what exactly are they? And are these substances harmful to humans and the environment? How does Schöffel deal with these chemicals and where are our limits?

What are PFCs?
PFC is the abbreviation for per- and polyfl uorinated chemicals, which comprise more than 3,000 different substances. They are not natural and are hardly biodegradable. This means that PFCs remain in the environment for a very long time. Some PFCs become enriched in nature and in organisms, and can be regarded as being of concern. They are therefore under strict observation, and in some cases banned. Yet PFCs are still being used because of their special proper ties. They are water-, grease-, and oil-repellent, and chemically and thermally stable. So they are used in a wide range of consumer goods such as cooking utensils, pizza boxes, sticky labels, and textiles. Whenever PFCs are mentioned, the first point to clarify is exactly which group of these chemicals is being discussed. The outdoor clothing industry usually talks of fluoro-organic compounds, which are applied to textiles in various processes to make them water-, dirt-, and oil-repellent. Properties that are essential in the quality of hard-wearing, weatherproof outdoor products.

Schöffel’s use of PFCs
As a medium-sized company, the production of high-quality, functional outdoor and ski clothing with a long lifetime and permanent quality is a natural commitment for Schöffel Sportbekleidung GmbH. It is particularly important to us to keep the use of chemicals as low as possible in the manufacture of our products.

The use of PFCs has hitherto been necessary in order to offer the end user permanent protection against the elements of nature. Schöffel spent many years working on alternatives – with success. Today, Schöffel has materials that eliminate the need for PFCs in its brand products. And do so with no loss in the customary high quality or performance of the clothing. Selected products with GORE-TEX® have a PFCEC-free (PFC environmental concern free) finish. Non-water-soluble, ecologically safe PFCs are also used for the membrane. For us as the Schöffel company, the topic of hazardous substance management is tremendously important. That is why we have been working with the bluesign® system since 2013 and adhere to the limits, which are extremely strict and much more stringent than the legal requirements of the EU Chemicals Regulation REACH. We reach the limits with products that are made to par ticularly strict requirements for special customers, such as the police and motorcycle clothing. Certain requirements such as dirt-repellent fabrics and oil resistance are mandator y for these types of fi nishes. Schöffel is not yet able to dispense entirely with the use of selected PFCs. Keeping them to a minimum is naturally a prime concern, and the company notes and adheres scrupulously to the legal requirements. Schöffel is also working on keeping the extent of their use to the absolute minimum while still ensuring the functionality and protection of the emergency personnel. At the same time, the company is also working on seeking options for reducing the use of PFCs in these areas.

Due to the specific functional requirements of materials, the use of natural fibres is minimal. All the same, Schöffel also sets high requirements for the selection of processed natural fibres.

PLANT FIBRES:

Cotton
Another natural fibre used by Schöffel in its production facilities is cotton. The use of Uzbek cotton is prohibited, since child and forced labour was used to harvest cotton in Uzbekistan. This goes against Schöffel’s basic principles.

Materials and products from the region Xinjiang, China
Due to recent reports of human rights violations in the Xinjiang region, there is a ban on the use of any material, including cotton, harvested, produced or processed in the region, as well as other products and services from the region.

Wood
Some items, such as buttons, can be made from the natural material wood. The wood used must not come from illegal timber harvests or HCVF forests (High Conservation Value Forests), such as rainforests.

ANIMAL FIBRES:

When using animal fibres, the outdoor expert makes sure they are procured without causing the animals any pain. Schöffel respects the environment and supports animal protection. This means that only materials that come from sources where responsible, species-appropriate animal welfare is guaranteed are used to make Schöffel products.

All products must therefore be manufactured in accordance with the Five Freedoms for Animal Welfare developed by the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC). These are:

- Freedom from hunger and thirst

- Freedom from physical and thermal discomfort

- Freedom from pain, injury and disease

- Freedom to express normal behaviour

- Freedom from fear and distress

Sheep's wool
Schöffel also strictly ensures that no wool is used from sheep, which have been subjected to the mulesing process. Mulesing is the removal of strips of skin from around the breech of a sheep to prevent flystrike. The procedure is usually performed without anaesthetic.

Angora & Mohair
Schöffel does not use any mohair and angora fibres at all, since the species-appropriate welfare of angora rabbits and angora goats is often not guaranteed, and the removal of their hair takes place under painful conditions.

Fur
The use of real fur is also not allowed; only synthetic furs, which do not contain any animal parts, are used for Schöffel products. Schöffel also belongs to the Fur Free Retailer Programme (https://furfreeretailer.com/).

Leather
The leather used in production may only be a by-product or waste product of the food industry or artificial leather. Only skins from animal species that are not threatened or protected may be used.

Down
All down and feathers used in Schöffel products must be RDS certified. As a company, Schöffel attaches particular importance to animal welfare and by committing to the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) company certification, has taken a further step towards the responsible sourcing of down. This includes the supply chain, which means that only down from animal welfare-friendly farming is used for its products, starting with the animal farm and continuing all the way through to the actual processing of the down. The Responsible Down Standard (RDS) certifies down and feathers against animal welfare requirements and tracks it from farm to final product. Products certified to the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) contain down or feathers from farms certified to animal welfare requirements. The certification process is carried out and constantly monitored by the Control Union testing institute. The purchase of Responsible Down Standard (RDS) certified products demonstrates demand for animal welfare practices in the down and feather supply chain. 

The current headquarters on the outskirts of the city were moved into in 1980 and have been continuously expanded and remodeled since then.

In 2011, the largest expansion to date of the production and work facilities took place. Schöffel has been purchasing 100% climate-neutral green gas for heating at the Schwabmünchen location since 2019. An extension of almost 950 square metres uses a modern concrete core activation system for heating and cooling the building. This innovative method exploits the potential of the building’s ceiling and walls to store thermal energy and therefore keep the interior at an optimum ambient temperature. Part of the concept also applies to a water circuit: the concrete core activation draws water from a specifically created well into the company premises. This initially keeps the server room cool and is then fed – several degrees warmer – into the heating system. The water is then directed back to the well. This concept not only saves on energy used for heating, it also replaces an air conditioning system and therefore saves additional energy. The key feature here is that the water is not used up but stays in the circuit. At the same time as the extension work, the existing photovoltaic system, which produces about 31,000 kWh of electricity each year, was renewed.

Since 2016, the subsidiary in Schwabmünchen has exclusively been using electricity from regenerative hydropower from the regional energy supplier LEW from Augsburg. The Schöffel- LOWA own retail stores also use electricity supplied by LEW natural sources – a service from which franchise partners can also benefit. In 2016, the new Development Centre was opened following extensive renovation work to the former warehouse. Covering an area of more than 600 square metres, the centre includes 26 modern workstations at which the Product Management, Design and Technical Development departments work together on developing future collections.

The Development Centre has an open-plan atmosphere with rooms flooded with natural light from large windows and skylights. Lounge corners known as “coffices” make it possible for employees to plug in their laptops and work in a relaxed atmosphere so that they can achieve the best results. Mountain scenes on the walls and a tree planted in the middle of the building ensure the outdoor theme is always present and add to the working atmosphere