How should I dispose of a GORE-TEX® product in an environmentally safe way?
Garments or footwear made from Gore laminates can be safely disposed of just like any other apparel product. Contrary to most other plastics, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) – the raw material of our membrane – is not made or processed using plasticizers or stabilizers. It doesn’t contain residuals like heavy metals, organotin compounds or phthalates. If disposed of in a landfill, PTFE will not degrade, so it will not contribute to the formation of greenhouse gases (i.e. Methane) or release substances into the water or air. In an incineration plant, PTFE is safely converted to CO2 and Fluorspar. Potentially harmful gases are captured by pollution control devices (alkaline scrubbers) that have been in place for a number of decades. Finding ways to extend the useful life of a product has always been the environmentally preferred option over product disposal.
