Fourteen years since Greenpeace’s influential DETOX campaign challenged the fashion industry’s chemical practices, the sector continues to contend with increasingly complex chemical standards and overlapping certifications. As brands seek clearer, more accountable ways forward, the European Union’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) steps in with a holistic approach to improving energy and resource efficiency throughout product life cycles.
Alberto De Conti, Head of RUDOLF HUB1922, underscores the significance of measurable environmental progress:
“Tools like CCF (Corporate Carbon Footprint) and PCF (Product Carbon Footprint) now allow us to measure real impact and drive meaningful environmental change,” says De Conti. “Reducing PCF significantly requires a shift to renewable raw materials—hence the creation of RUDOLF BIO-LOGIC, a range of 69 textile chemical auxiliaries with bio-based carbon content from 25% to 100%.”
The RUDOLF BIO-LOGIC collection includes several pioneering bio-based formulations that support a cleaner, more circular textile process:
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FERAN® BIO ICR and RUCO®-PUR BIO SLB: Bio-based hydrophilizing agents designed to enhance comfort in polyamide fabrics.
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For the denim sector:
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RUCO®-SPECIAL LSM: A laser-friendly smoother that enables natural laser wash effects, made from bio-carbon sources.
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RUCOLASE® DWS: A sustainable, waterless solution for the stonewashing of jeans, using bio-abrasive technology.
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At PV Denim Milan, RUDOLF showcased more than just technical innovation. In partnership with emerging fashion designer Sasha Neema Ponte, the brand introduced the complete CONVENIENTER NATURAE VIVERE collection — Latin for “living in harmony with nature.” The garments combine bio-based chemistry with biomimicry and cutting-edge performance textiles.
“Our aim is to reconnect people with nature, even in urban spaces,” says Ponte. “This collection reflects a very new, very credible and conscious approach to fashion.”
RUDOLF’s presentation is a testament to the potential of merging ecological innovation with commercial-scale production. It reflects an evolving model of sustainable design—one that’s deeply rooted in nature while meeting the demands of modern fashion.
