Zurich – A non-toxic and breathable membrane for outdoor wear has been developed by dimpora. The spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich has now won second place in the Global Change Award initiated by the H&M Foundation. This award is given in recognition of sustainable innovation in the clothing industry.

The H&M Foundation presents the Global Change Award to promising startups believed to have the power to reinvent the fashion industry through their sustainable technologies and products. The Zurich company Dimpora AG has won second place in this year's competition, beating over 6,639 startups from around 180 different countries.

Waterproof yet breathable clothing generally features a membrane that includes fluorine compounds, which are harmful to the environment and health. However, dimpora has developed a membrane that is entirely fluorine-free. When it comes to breathability and waterproof properties, it is more than a match for traditional membranes. The startup now plans to procure fabric, laminate this with the membrane and sell it on to manufacturers of outdoor and sports clothing.

The silver medal awarded to dimpora comes with prize money of €250,000. It will also enter a one-year accelerator program. The startup has now launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo so it can scale-up its research activities.

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