PR84627

ZURICH, July 2, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

Textile innovator HeiQ's antiviral textile technology, HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03,

has been certified as safe and sustainable as all its ingredients are cosmetic

grade, bio-based, and recycled.

Leading the international textile industry to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, HeiQ

recently launched HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 [

https://heiq.com/technologies/heiq-viroblock/], an antiviral and antibacterial

textile treatment proven to reduce 99.99% of human coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 [

https://heiq.com/2020/06/05/heiq-viroblock-tested-successfully-against-virus-that-causes-covid-19/],

the virus that causes COVID-19, along with other enveloped viruses and bacteria.

Viruses and bacteria can remain infective on textile surfaces for days. Human

Coronavirus SARS-CoV persist for up to 2 days on surgical gowns[1] at room

temperature. Antiviral treatments for textiles contribute to more hygienic and

safer textile products and can help mitigate the risk of contamination and

transmission. While the global textile industry is rapidly adopting antiviral

textile treatments to bring antiviral masks, clothes, and home fabrics to the

market, it is important to consider the profile of different technologies

including questions of toxicity, safety, antimicrobial resistance, and

wastewater treatment.

The HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 is a formulation that contains a minute amount of

recycled silver active ingredient and fatty liposome vesicle components. It is

EU REACH and US FIFRA compliant, OEKOTEX® certified, ZDHC and bluesign®

homologized. Treated textile articles are compliant with EU BPR and US EPA.

HeiQ Viroblock respirator masks with antibacterial and antiviral surface have

been registered as medical device by Swissmedic and approved by US FDA [

https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-emergency-use-authorizations-medical-devices/personal-protective-equipment-euas#appendixa].

"Since HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 was designed for use on face masks to impart

enhanced protection against viruses and bacteria, we selected only the most

effective, safest and most sustainable ingredients. Furthermore, we are proud

that HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 qualifies as a bio-based renewable product and is

100% made from INCI approved cosmetic ingredients," says Carlo Centonze,

co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of HeiQ Group.

Beta Analytics Testing Laboratory has certified that HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03

contains 72% bio-based carbon. Test results are accredited to ISO/IEC

17025:2005 Testing Accreditation PJLA #59423 standards. HeiQ Viroblock NPJO3 is

currently undergoing homologation for the USDA bio-preferred certification.

Specialities S.R.L (Italy), a surface chemistry research and development

company, has also confirmed that all ingredients of HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 are

selected from the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI).

"HeiQ is grounded in the pursuit of innovation that helps to bring a positive

benefit to the World. Designing products with safe and sustainable components,

such as the HeiQ Viroblock technology, is central to that mission," says Dr.

Murray Height, co-founder and Chief Science Officer of HeiQ Group.

About HeiQ

Founded in 2005 as a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology

Zurich (ETH), HeiQ is a leader in textile innovation creating some of the most

effective, durable and high-performance textile technologies on the market

today. HeiQ's purpose is to improve the lives of billions of people by

perfecting an everyday product: Textiles. Combining three areas of expertise –

scientific research, specialty materials manufacturing and consumer ingredient

branding – HeiQ is the ideal innovation partner to create differentiating and

sustainable textile products and capture the added value at the point of sale.

With a total capacity of 35,000 tons per year HeiQ manufactures in the USA,

Switzerland and Australia supplying its specialty chemical products in over 60

countries worldwide.

HeiQ, Viroblock and HeiQ Viroblock are trademark(s) or registered trademark(s)

of HeiQ Materials AG.

1. Kampf G, Todt D, Pfaender S, Steinmann E. Persistence of coronaviruses on

inanimate surfaces and its inactivation with biocidal agents. Journal of

Hospital Infection. 2020 Feb 6.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1199226/HeiQ_Viroblock.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1134330/HeiQ_Materials_Logo.jpg

Contacts:

HeiQ Materials AG

Ruetistrasse 12

8952 Schlieren (Zurich)

Switzerland

www.heiq.com

Switzerland: +41-56-250-68-50

USA: +1-704-795-9322

Taiwan: +886-3-312-0561

info@heiq.com

Media contact:

Hoi Kwan Lam

Chief Marketing Officer

hoikwan.lam@heiq.com

Source: HeiQ AG