The Ventura, California-based Patagonia said this week it will link up with Switzerland’s Beyond Surface Technologies – a fast growing textile firm founded in 2008 by scientists and marketing experts with more than 40 years of experience in the textile industry. With the help of BST, Patagonia hopes to totally eradicate C8, without sacrificing the current technical qualities in its clothing. Chemicals are a required component in weathering against outdoor conditions – from waterproofing materials in parkas to creating jackets that can resist wind. But, the chemicals needed to create the technicalites are toxic to the environment. The durable water repellent used as a standard for years by Patagonia is a long-chain fluorocarbon-based treatment that is highly effective and durable. But, governments around the globe advised chemical companies to stop making C8, compelling Patagonia to look for comparable eco-alternatives. Patagonia has since tried several fluorocarbon-free methods. Many finishes, including waxes and silicones, did lower the fabric surface tension enough to cause water to bead and disperse rather than saturate cloth. But, they were too easily contaminated by dirt and oil and rapidly lost their effectiveness, reducing the lifetime of a garment, explains Patagonia in a blog post. With Patagonia’s recent financial and ethical commitment to BTS, both firms are gaining ground on the issue, via much needed research. “Patagonia’s investment gives us the opportunity to accelerate testing and reduce time to market for our pipeline of ground-breaking new treatments for the entire apparel industry,” said Matthias Foessel, CEO of Beyond Surface Technologies. “Patagonia is enabling us to grow even faster – benefiting the environment and enhancing product performance – while remaining completely independent and in control of the original founders. This is truly unique.”The unknown sum given to BST, forms part of Patagonia’s $20 Million & Change fund, which launched in 2013 to help innovative, like-minded companies bring solutions to the environmental crisis and other positive change through business.“This is the tension we feel every day, making the best technical products for our core sports and working to fulfill our environmental commitments,” Rose Marcario, Patagonia’s CEO, said in a statement. “We look for better, cleaner, safer ways to do things, we apply our own R&D and look for brilliant companies to partner with.”And, consistent with prior environmental innovations over the past 20 years, Patagonia plans to share any breakthroughs BST may produce with the entire outdoor industry in order to amplify the environmental impact to the greatest extent possible. It has received interest from more than 600 companies who share similar business and environmental missions, and invested in 10 companies to date. “Beyond Surface Technologies has the potential to help Patagonia and our entire industry get to the next level of chemical safety without compromising performance, and we’re very excited to invest in their success,” added Marcario. In addition, Patagonia will continue to donate one percent of annual sales to environmental causes.