Fristads drives breakthrough in antimony-free flame-retardant fibres

Fristads is featured in the Spring 2026 issue of Health and Safety International (HSI) for its role in driving the development of a new, more sustainable flame-retardant fibre – a breakthrough that could reshape one of the most complex product categories in workwear. The new fibre is antimony free and partly made with recycled chemicals.

Flame-retardant garments are among the most complex types of personal protective equipment (PPE), designed to protect against heat, flames and electric arc. Historically, fibre manufacturers have relied on materials and chemical solutions that are problematic from a sustainability perspective but difficult to replace.

The HSI case study highlights how Fristads, in collaboration with chemical manufacturer Kaneka and fibre distributor Waxman Fibres, has worked to challenge the industry’s long-standing dependency on antimony, a metal that is commonly used in flame-retardant fibres like modacrylics but is associated with environmental and supply chain concerns.

“Developing more sustainable alternatives in this category has long been seen as close to impossible,” said Petra Öberg Gustafsson, Managing Director at Fristads. “But by working closely with our partners and pushing for change, we’ve shown that it can be done.”

A new generation of flame-retardant fibres
The result of this collaboration is Protex F – an antimony-free flame-retardant fibre that delivers the same level of certified protection as traditional solutions. In addition, the fibre can be produced using recycled chemicals from plastic and textile waste, reducing reliance on virgin raw materials.

This marks a significant step forward for the industry. While recycled materials are becoming more common in standard workwear, introducing them into high-performance protective clothing has been far more challenging due to strict safety requirements.

“Safety always comes first in PPE,” said Lisa Rosengren, Sustainability & Raw Material Manager at Fristads. “The challenge has been to improve the environmental performance without compromising protection, durability or comfort. With this new fibre, there is no difference in grade, which makes the breakthrough so significant.”

From innovation to application
After five years of development, Fristads will be one of the first companies to bring this innovation to market, by incorporating Protex F into its upcoming Multinorm Green collection. The collection, which is slated to launch in September 2026, combines certified multinorm protection with more sustainable materials and Environmental Product Declarations (EPD).

By translating fibre innovation into finished garments, Fristads aims to make it easier for customers to choose protective clothing that meet both strict safety requirements and ambitious sustainability goals. Multinorm Green is the first collection in the PPE segment that comes with EPDs, providing third-party verified data on CO2 emissions and water use across the full life cycle of each garment. This data helps customers make informed purchasing decisions and supports Scope 3 reporting.

Driving change through collaboration
The case study also underlines how regulatory pressure, customer expectations and the need for supply chain resilience are accelerating change across the industry and how collaboration between brands, fibre producers and suppliers is key to making it happen.

By helping to bring antimony-free, partially recycled flame-retardant fibres to market, Fristads is contributing to a broader shift towards more transparent and sustainable production in the workwear industry.

“This is not just about one fibre or one product,” said Lisa Rosengren. “It’s about proving that even the most technically complex workwear can be reinvented if we create demand for it. And it opens the door for further innovation across the entire category.”

The full case study, “Have we finally achieved the holy grail of sustainability plus performance in PPE?”, is available in the Spring 2026 issue of Health and Safety International.