Made from ultra-soft and eco-friendly Tencel™ Lyocell, Organic Cotton, and just a bit of stretch, our PlayKnit fabric is rated UPF50+ and Oeko-Tex 100 certified. What does this all mean? So glad you asked!
What is Tencel™ and is it sustainable?
Tencel™ is a trademark of Lenzing AG and it has very strict standards in its production of their lyocell fibers, which is considered a type of rayon. Unlike most other rayons, they only use wood from sustainably harvested forests and less toxic chemicals to produce in a circular production system, where 99% of the chemicals and solvents used to create the fiber are reused and never enter the ecosystem. One study found their process to use 40% less non-renewable resources than in production of conventional cotton!
Tencel™ is considered one of the most sustainable fibers available and has a BioPreferred designation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is only granted to products made from renewable resources. Read more about this soft and breathable fabric here.
What is UPF50+?
UPF is a measurement of the amount of UVA and UVB radiation that can get through fabric to the skin. A UPF50 fabric has been tested and verified to block 1/50th of the sun's harmful UV rays from penetrating - this means the fabric blocks at least 98% of UVA and UVB radiation from reaching the skin. According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, a fabric must have a UPF of 30 to qualify for their official Seal of Recommendation. UPF 30-49 is considered very good protection, while UPF50+ is excellent.
Our PlayKnit fabric is rated UPF50+, the highest rating possible. The test for this fabric shows that it blocks 98.36% of UVA and 99.16% of UVB rays! With its super soft and breathable feel, your little ones can wear Porpoise to play comfortable and safely all day - indoors or out.