Archroma has reaffirmed its position as the exclusive textile industry distributor of ZELAN durable water repellent (DWR) products following a new agreement with Nicca, which recently acquired the ZELAN business. The partnership ensures uninterrupted supply, marketing continuity, and technical support for mills and brands operating globally.
A Partnership Rooted in Over a Decade of Industry Trust
Archroma’s role as ZELAN’s global distribution, marketing, and technical support partner traces back to 2015, when Teflon EcoElite with ZELAN R3 was launched by Chemours and Huntsman Textile Effects — a business that Archroma itself acquired in 2023. Under the renewed arrangement with Nicca, Archroma will continue to serve as the sole textile industry distributor of ZELAN DWR products and the associated Teflon EcoElite technology on a worldwide basis.
Alongside its distribution responsibilities, Archroma will lead marketing initiatives for these solutions and maintain technical support services for mills and brands across all geographies, consistent with its existing role.
HIGH IQ® lastingrepelPRO Assurance Program Integration
ZELAN finished textiles will also become eligible for Archroma’s forthcoming HIGH IQ® lastingrepelPRO assurance program — a consumer-facing mark designed to recognize DWR performance, durability, and sustainability. This integration is expected to provide brands with a credible and well-recognized quality signal in the market.
ZELAN R3: A PFAS-Free DWR With Plant-Based Credentials
At the core of this technology is ZELAN R3, recognized as the textile industry’s first renewably sourced DWR and one of the most significant PFAS-free durable water repellent options available today. The formulation contains 63% plant-based materials, sourced from non-GMO and non-food-source feedstock. It delivers strong water repellency and long-lasting durability while preserving breathability performance across all fiber types.
ZELAN R3 is bluepass certified and is published on the ZDHC Gateway at Conformance Level 3.1, reflecting its alignment with established chemical compliance standards in the textile sector. Beyond performance, ZELAN technology helps brands deliver effective rain and stain protection with good runnability for uninterrupted processing.
What This Means for Mills and Brands
Speaking on the agreement, a spokesperson from Nicca stated that when the company acquired the ZELAN business, it took on not only industry-leading technology but also the trust that mills and brands had placed in the platform over more than a decade. Retaining Archroma as the exclusive textile industry distribution partner was a deliberate decision to ensure customers continue working with the same product, the same Teflon EcoElite support, and the same partner they have relied upon — without the need to rebuild relationships from the ground up.
Roland Borufka, Product Manager for Finishing and Technical Textiles at Archroma, noted that PFAS-free durable water repellents have moved well beyond niche status and now represent a baseline expectation among major outdoor and outerwear brands. He added that ZELAN has been central to this industry-wide shift, and that as Nicca’s exclusive distribution partner for the textile sector, Archroma is positioned to support customers through this transition with consistent supply and technical expertise across all the markets where they operate.
