The future for Nikwax - More Than Just Waterproofing.
A new family of products and maintaining its commitment to conserving the natural world
40 Years of Nikwax - Invention and Innovation, to keep people dry, with concern for the environment
Nick Brown, CEO started Nikwax in 1977. The catalysts were, firstly, as an outdoor person who backpacked in the mountains, wanting to have dry and comfortable feet. Secondly, as a young person having just finished university, being able to earn a living. These two needs came together to form Nikwax, a business that first focused on preserving, and waterproofing, leather mountain boots. In due course, focus extended to production with minimal environmental impact. What followed was developing the first range of water-based garment waterproofing products that could effectively replace harmful aerosols, could be used easily at home in a washing machine and were safe .
The future for Nikwax is – More Than Just Waterproofing – Outdoor Innovation.
Out of concern that climate change is increasingly threatening to alter the way of life for billions of people, Nikwax is innovating to adapt, but in a way that also takes care of our planet. Nick Brown comments: “As consumers become more aware of the environmental challenges, they will become selective about which brands they support. They will want the brands they choose to have a history that they can be proud of, combined with the ability to invent new and greener solutions to the practical problems of life”.
More Than Just Waterproofing – Nikwax Sweatproofing –
Nikwax introduces a new family of products at OutDoor that they will be developing into the future.
Nikwax believes outdoor comfort is not just about repelling water away from your clothing system, it is also about making the best use of the water we produce through our skin. So, they have bought together a range of products that make fabrics dry faster and therefore cool you more efficiently, reducing the need to sweat. At the same time, they reduce odour build up in the fabric, extending the useful life of garments. Nikwax has brought together this family of products under the Sweatproofing banner, to help people better understand the benefit of increasing the performance of technical underwear.
NEWS UPDATE! Nikwax Sweatproofing advanced laundry conditioner BaseFresh® earns an
OutDoor INDUSTRY AWARD in the “Sustainable Innovation” category.
Nikwax's approach to developing innovative products that enhance people's comfort
and enjoyment of the outdoors, with care for the environment has earned them an
OutDoor INDUSTRY AWARD for BaseFresh(R) in the category "Sustainable Innovation".
BaseFresh® is an advanced laundry conditioner for all next-to-skin technical base layers, underwear and wicking clothing designed to be worn next to the skin which deodorises, inhibits the build-up of body odours, makes fabrics dry faster and therefore cools more efficiently, reducing the need to sweat.
Recognising people's comfort outdoors is not just about keeping water out of clothing, BaseFresh is part of Nikwax's new Sweatproofing family of products. The range also includes BaseWash(R), Wool Wash(TM) and Sandal Wash(TM), expertly designed to clean and condition next-to-skin technical clothing, extending the useful life of garments with no loss performance.
More Than Just Waterproofing –
Nikwax maintains its commitment to conserving the natural world, saving forests and endangered species.
In Nikwax’s 40th year, they are proud to finish 2017 contributing to protect even more tropical forest, through EOCA and World Land Trust. Nikwax has encouraged the growth of enough vegetation to completely balance all their operational carbon emissions since their start, 40 years ago. The forest they restore sucks the CO2 they emit back into the atmosphere, maintaining their commitment to conserving the natural world.
More Than Just Waterproofing – Enabling Detox with Nikwax eco-materials and textiles
Nikwax continues to take the lead in encouraging other brands to step away from the use of toxic chemicals, like PFCs. By providing PFC-free waterproofing technology, Nikwax has enabled brands to be able to join the Greenpeace Detox campaign, which aims to remove hazardous chemicals from the textile supply chain. Forward-looking brands are now using Nikwax PFC-free Hydrophobic Down in their sleeping bags and jackets. Páramo use Nikwax for their waterproofing systems. Most brands recommend Nikwax aftercare to support their PFC-free waterproof systems.
- ENDS -
About Nikwax
Nikwax® was founded in 1977 by Nick Brown, a keen mountain walker and traveller, who designed his own product, a waterproofing wax, to keep his leather mountain boots dry. Subsequently Nikwax has become the global leader in environmentally safe aftercare and waterproofing solutions that extend the life and performance of technical footwear, clothing and equipment. Nikwax care products are distributed to 50 countries. Nikwax® is the only major aftercare company to have never used aerosols or fluorocarbons. Nikwax products are all fluorochemical-free, use advanced elastomer technology, are not tested on animals, and are non-persistent in the environment. Nikwax has received numerous awards including the prestigious Queen’s Award (4x), Sunday Times Best Green Award (3x), and the Green Apple Award (x2), and is ISO 9001 and 14001 certified. In 2014 Nikwax won the Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development, one of only 13 UK companies to receive this pinnacle award for sustainable business, and the only Outdoor company to have ever received the award.
In 1987 Nick Brown moved into the area of industrial products, with a new fabric system called “Nikwax Analogy” which uses the principle of waterproofing directionality, that is, actively moving liquid water, as well as moisture vapour, away from the wearer’s body. The Nikwax Analogy waterproof system requires no PFC chemicals to function effectively. The system has primarily been adopted by the clothing brand Páramo, which has won many awards in Britain for its waterproof jackets. Páramo supplies, amongst others, the British Antarctic Survey. Páramo was the first outdoor company worldwide to have joined the Greenpeace Detox Campaign to eliminate PFC-based DWRs from production.In January 2017, Páramo became the first performance-wear company to have World Fair Trade Organization verified Fair Trade products and the first outdoor company to have a majority Fair Trade range.
The recent global awareness of serious environmental problems with PFC-based products has stimulated Nikwax to refocus on the development of a “PFC Treatment Free” industrial standard for Outdoor brands, and to promote the concept of waterproof directionality internationally.
nikwax.co.uk
For further press information please contact:
Stephanie Briggs at Spring PR - T: +44 [0]1666 824180 or E:
Nikwax · Outdoor Innovation