To meet the growing demand for protection against viruses and bacteria, Finnish biotech innovator Nordic BioTech Group has accelerated the market entry of its ‘cutting-edge’ NordShield, antimicrobial technology for consumer textiles. NordShield BioLayr provides a protective and durable antimicrobial layer for textiles, garments, shoes and accessories, whilst protecting the environment.
The company says that NordShield, in fact revolutionizes the way antimicrobials work. The technology forms an ultra-thin mechanical layer on the treated surface providing safe and long-lasting antimicrobial protection. The layer inhibits microbial growth on the treated surface or its pores. Adhesion forces keep the functional layer attached to the surface, and the branched molecular structure helps it stay absorbed in a porous material.
Importantly, Nordic BioTech says that, contrary to any other scalable solution on the market, NordShield BioLayr is free of heavy metals and the unique technology keeps its antimicrobial efficacy for a minimum of 30 washes, more than the average lifetime of a garment. By choosing this biodegradable solution, the chemical load on the environment can be significantly decreased, the company claims.
“Access to antiviral and antibacterial protection for everyone is key to stop pandemics like Covid-19 from spreading, or new ones forming. By using our technology, brands can offer their customers the next level added value through a physical and yet invisible armour of antimicrobiality, while serving current mega trends of naturality and sustainability,” Comments Kristoffer Ekman, CEO of NordShield.
Most importantly, it is sustainably produced and free of heavy metals, an increasing threat to our planet and the life on it
“As a result of more than a decade of research and development, NordShield has in 2020 commercialised its patented and scalable antimicrobial technology, which is unparalleled, being both powerful and natural-based,” Nordic BioTech explains. “It is also non-leaching and safe for its users and the environment. Most importantly, it is sustainably produced and free of heavy metals, an increasing threat to our planet and life on it,” the company adds.
“Current standard antimicrobial treatments are based on heavy metals such as silver and copper, which are provenly a threat to life and environment by leaching from products into nature, and even into humans through skin exposure. Through its scalability, NordShield has created a technology that makes ecological antimicrobial protection for the masses possible for the first time.”
According to Nordic BioTech, the technology can also be applied for sustainable and high-efficacy anti-mould protection for textiles during transportation and warehousing, a global issue, that it says, costs the textile industry billions annually in lost revenues and causes thousands of tons in avoidable waste. Utilizing NordShield eliminates the need for fossil-based poly bags and environmentally questionable silica bags, that are the industry standard to tackle this issue alongside heavy metal-based solutions, the company says.
Furthermore, Nordic adds, NordShield technology acts as a base to a wider range of applications, such as the NordShield Brilliant product family for antimicrobial protection for face masks, hands, feet, shoes and surfaces. NordShield Pathogen Barrier, a CE-marked solution classified as a medical device, offers antimicrobial protection for the medical field.
”It is only the lack of alternatives so far, paired with a strong need for antimicrobial solutions, that has justified heavy metal based treatments to be used. Countries like Germany and Sweden as forerunners are already working on prohibiting the usage of these, as the negative consequences for people and environment are dramatic. To enable the best tomorrow for people and our planet, we need to make active choices for sustainable solutions,” concludes Greta Waissi, Head of Regulatory Affairs at NordShield, and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Ecotoxicology
Nordic BioTech Group Oy, branded as NordShield, is a leading supplier of natural based antimicrobial solutions. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Espoo, Finland, NordShield aims to disrupt the field of antimicrobial technology through a durable, natural based and safer alternative for antimicrobial protection free of heavy metals that can be utilised across applications and industries.
