Ultrafabrics Launches Volar Bio Luxury Plant-Based Material

Last month, the high-performance fabric manufacturer Ultrafabrics and Material ConneXion teamed up to launch the company’s first ever bio-based performance material, Ultraleather Volar Bio, in Sandow’s New York City office.

Volar Bio represents a significant new direction for the brand. In an effort to reduce dependence on finite resources, renewable plant-based materials have been incorporated into the layers of the product’s construction.

Corn-based content is used to prepare polyols for the polycarbonate polyurethane resin while wood pulp-based materials are incorporated into the twill backcloth. The resulting product has a 29 percent BioPreferred Program Label, which is managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide useful information to consumers about the biobased content of a product. The natural and organic material is reflected in the color palette as well. It’s offered in a range of hues inspired by the healing powers of minerals, including gray, brown, rose, taupe, blue, green, and orange.

The launch event included a Q&A session with Material ConneXion’s Dr. Gayatri Keskar and Professor Deb Johnson, a professor at Pratt Institute and founder of the institute’s Center for Sustainable Design Studies. The two discussed the future of sustainable design and the ongoing role of biobased textiles. Guests also browsed Material ConneXion’s materials library.

By 2025, Ultrafabrics’ goal is to include biobased ingredients and/or recycled content in 50 percent of new product introductions, and that number will increase to 100 percent by 2030. It’s all part of the company’s  mission of pioneering innovative materials that conserve resources and protect the well-being of people and the planet.

Read more: Duvaltex Introduces Game-Changing Biodegradable Clean Impact Textiles