We believe science should learn from nature—that a product is timeless when it’s renewable and that a single fiber can make a world of difference. We know that we never have to sacrifice performance to be sustainable, or the other way around. To us, finding ways to leave a smaller footprint just comes naturally, so we do it every step of the way.
37% of the biopolymer is made using annually renewable plant-based ingredients.
The revolutionary Bio-PDO compound turns a formerly chemical process into an eco-efficient biological one.
Uses 30% less energy
Releases 63% fewer greenhouse gas emissions
Uses 40% less energy
Releases 56% fewer greenhouse gas emissions
When we spot a hint of greatness, we give it a second look. We explore untapped possibilities and find a way to make it something truly special. This is how, after decades of research and asking the right questions, DuPont scientists discovered a way to produce PDO—a building block with endlessly versatile potential—using a biological process that would have a global impact:
The process begins by simply harvesting crops.
Sugar, or glucose, is extracted from the crops.
Microorganisms are added to the glucose to begin a fermentation process (similar to the production of alcohol).
Fermentation replaces chemical synthesis and produces PDO
(1,3-Propanediol) in a natural way.
TPA (terephthalic acid) is added to the Bio-PDO, creating a molecular bond.
The result is Sorona®: a revolutionary,
high-performance fiber whose positive impact ripples out to yarn spinners, manufacturers, designers and consumers across the globe.
The process begins by simply harvesting crops.
Sugar, or glucose, is extracted from the crops.
Microorganisms are added to the glucose to begin a fermentation process (similar to the production of alcohol).
Fermentation replaces chemical synthesis and produces PDO
(1,3-Propanediol) in a natural way.
TPA (terephthalic acid) is added to the Bio-PDO, creating a molecular bond.
The result is Sorona®: a revolutionary,
high-performance fiber whose positive impact ripples out to yarn spinners, manufacturers, designers and consumers across the globe.
Ever since the early 1900s, DuPont has been revolutionizing the world of fiber and polymers. From the first plastic-coated fabrics developed in the 1910s to groundbreaking fibers like the versatile nylon, neoprene rubber fabric, elastic Lycra®, bulletproof Kevlar® and even Tyvek®, DuPont has spent over a century creating textile products that transform the way we live and work. And as a product that’s on the forefront of the shift from oil-based materials to bio-based ones, Sorona® fits perfectly into a legacy of meaningful performance-based innovation — one that we have to continue to sustain our world.
Sorona® renewably sourced fiber is one of the first 11 products approved as part of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) BioPreferred Program for certified bio-based products.
Sorona® also received EcoMark certification, a status awarded to products that stand out among their competitors for superior environmental efficiency.
In 2017, Dupont received the Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Award for European Bio-Based Materials Company of the Year because of its innovative work with Sorona® fiber.
Sorona fiber has undergone stringent testing and has been proven to be safe for use by infants and toddlers, earning it Class 1 certification from the OEKO-TEX Standard 100.