The 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, Brazil, is winding down but before it ends, let me report on this news from DuPont Industrial Biosciences about the use of their Sorona PTT plant-based fibers in the Chinese team’s ‘Dragon Uniform’.

Anta Sports is reportedly one of the leading branded sportswear enterprises in China, and has been an official partner of the Chinese Olympic Committee since 2009. The company said it is hoping to incorporate the concepts of health, environment and public welfare to make the uniforms more meaningful using DuPont’s Sorona fibers.

The Sorona polymer contains 37% renewable plant-based ingredients by weight, and is primarily used in high-performance fiber applications, including textiles for apparel and home, office and automotive interiors, residential and commercial carpeting and automotive mats.

I am just wondering why other leading sportswear brands are not thinking in this direction (since they can afford it anyway especially if they want to highlight the sustainability of their brands at the Olympic Games).

Here is an article from Forbes Magazine about some of the sportswear brands used for several Olympic Teams:

1. Canada – DSquared2 brand
2. United Kingdom – Stella McCartney
3. Sweden – H&M
4. USA – Ralph Lauren
5. South Korea – (did not say but their uniforms are said to be Zika repellent!)
6. France – Lacoste