Italian warp knitted textiles manufacturer Pontetorto has been awarded the prestigious Performance Days Eco Award for its innovative 6140/Biobased microfleece fabric, developed in collaboration with Finnish company UPM using wood-derived bio-based polyester fibres. The award is set to be presented at Performance Days in Munich, Germany, on 13 and 14 October 2026, acknowledging the Italian company’s contribution to developing lower-impact textile solutions for the outdoor, sportswear and performance apparel sectors.
A Legacy of Technical Textile Innovation
Founded in 1952, Pontetorto has built a strong and widely respected reputation in the field of technical fleece fabrics and innovative warp knitted textiles. Its latest development, the 6140/Biobased microfleece, marks a notable step in the company’s ongoing material innovation journey by replacing conventional fossil-based raw materials with wood-derived bio-PET. The fabric maintains the performance, comfort and technical characteristics that demanding outdoor and sportswear applications require, while offering an environmentally considered alternative to traditional polyester.
Wood-Derived Raw Materials at the Core
The 6140/Biobased microfleece incorporates fibres produced using raw materials derived from residues generated by the wood industry — including small branches, leaves and sawmill by-products. These residual resources are converted into bio-based polyester feedstocks, reducing dependence on fossil-based inputs in the manufacturing process.
According to Pontetorto, the resulting sustainable textile offers a lower carbon footprint compared to conventional polyester, while fully retaining the functional properties expected of high-performance fleece materials. The wood used in production is sourced exclusively from forests certified under FSC and PEFC schemes, supporting responsible forest management and ensuring traceability across the supply chain.
Recognition Rooted in Responsibility
Marco Toccafondi, general manager of Pontetorto, welcomed the Performance Days Eco Award recognition with measured pride. “We accept this award with pride and a sense of responsibility,” said Toccafondi. “It is the result of extensive work carried out by a team of passionate professionals with extraordinary expertise.”
He further noted that reducing the company’s carbon footprint has long been a central pillar of Pontetorto’s development strategy — a commitment grounded in delivering measurable environmental improvements rather than simply making sustainability claims.
Industry Interest in Bio-Based Alternatives
The bio-based fleece award shines a light on the growing interest across the textile industry in bio-based alternatives to conventional synthetic fibres, particularly within outdoor and sportswear categories where durability, thermal comfort and technical performance remain non-negotiable. By combining renewable raw materials with established polyester processing technologies, Pontetorto aims to demonstrate that material innovation and functional performance can go hand in hand when developing the next generation of performance textiles.
Visitors attending Performance Days Munich will have the opportunity to explore Pontetorto’s latest bio-based textile developments in person at stands I24–I25.
