An eco-friendly sustainable absorbent textile invented by technology company Confitex is offering people around the world a discreet, effective and sustainable alternative to single-use pads and liners.
The revolutionary new textile is unique in that it’s fully waterproof without the use of a layer of PU plastic. It was invented by Confitex founder Frantisek Riha-Scott, a designer with a passion for endurance ski racing.
He says, “I originally wanted to create high-performance absorbent sports underwear so athletes didn’t need to stop for bathroom breaks during long races. But I quickly realised that reusable leakproof underwear had a much wider application – it would also be life-changing for the one in three women and one in five men who live with light-to-medium urinary incontinence.”
Polyurethane (PU) is out; futuristic microscopic textiles are in
Riha-Scott’s research demonstrated that the layer of polyurethane (PU) plastic usually used in waterproof fabrics isn’t fit for purpose – not only because it takes centuries to break down in landfill, but because it can’t be stitched, heat-sealed, moulded or tumble-dried and it is not breathable when worn.
Drawing on his textile design training and extensive research into microscopic textile technology, Riha-Scott created and patented the world’s first and only fully waterproof fabric that doesn’t rely on a layer of PU plastic for its efficacy, and used it in a range of absorbent underwear for men and women.
Functional goes fashionable
He launched the Confitex label at New Zealand Fashion Week – tackling the taboos around bladder leakage head-on and making international headlines as the world’s first fashionable range of washable incontinence underwear.
In June 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic carved up the world, Confitex launched its second-generation range of trunks under the Confitex for Men label, as well as a new Just’nCase range of absorbent period-proof and pee-proof underwear for women and reusable nursing pads for breastfeeding mothers.
Confitex’s textile also performs effectively when used in period underwear – providing a more eco-friendly alternative to single-use pads, tampons and other brands of period pants, which almost invariably contain a layer of PU plastic.
And because Confitex products don’t contain that PU plastic layer, they can safely be tumble dried without warping, scrunching or losing their leakproof performance.
Independently lab tested
International standards laboratory UL has independently tested Confitex’s products, verifying that the textile created by Riha-Scott is at the forefront of high-performance absorbent textile technology.
“We know that our textile technology is superior because our underwear and nursing pads have been independently tested against other leading washable brands, and have come out on top for absorbency per square inch with the least bulk,” says Riha-Scott. “That sounds like a technicality, but it makes a huge difference to the comfort and confidence people experience when they use our products.”
Confitex is an eco-conscious textile technology company driven by a desire to transform lives and protect the planet. By marrying high-tech absorbent and leakproof textiles with stylish design, Confitex aims to change the handling of everyday leaks and smash any stigma along the way. The company’s goal is a world where nobody needs to live in fear of life’s little leaks.
Save the world in your underwear!
Reaching for yet another pack of single-use paper pads, liners or shields brings with it a mixed bag of emotions, including frustration with the inconvenience they cause and anxiety about potential visible leaks. The last thing you need on top of that is guilt about their impact on our environment.
Whether they make it to landfill or, even worse, end up in our oceans, ‘disposable’ products containing plastic lining and chemical absorbents can take as long as 500 years to decompose – which means they’re not really ‘disposable’ at all. In fact, every pad or liner you’ve ever used is still out there somewhere!
Luckily, a revolution in the world of absorbent textiles means there are now options for men and women looking for a sustainable way to manage life’s little leaks.
Confitex’s super absorbent and leakproof fabric underwear for men and women and reusable nursing pads for new mums can be put straight in the washing machine and tumble dryer just like normal clothing, offering a discreet, convenient and eco-friendly alternative to plastic-lined pads.
The products have been laboratory tested to last at least as long as ordinary underwear, so every pair you buy will mean you don’t have to send hundreds of single-use products to landfill.
And best of all, unlike most other absorbent underwear brands, which rely on a layer of plastic for their waterproofing, Confitex’s revolutionary patented textile technology contains no PU plastics. This means that when our products eventually do wear out, they’ll decompose naturally, making them a more eco-friendly option all around.
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