Anta's Fluorine-Free Membrane Unveiled Globally: China's Self-Developed Innovation Leads the Era of Fluorine-Free Technical Fabrics

As the global industrial chains in various fields are accelerating towards sustainable transformation, the field of high-performance waterproof and breathable materials has also entered a critical innovation window, and a fabric innovation about "fluorine-free" is unfolding.

On August 28, 2025, Anta, in collaboration with Donghua University, officially launched China's self-developed high-performance fluorine-free waterproof and breathable material - the fluorine-free Anta membrane. This marks a key breakthrough in the global field of high-performance fluorine-free waterproof and breathable materials. As China's first self-developed high-performance fluorine-free waterproof and breathable material to achieve mass production, the launch of the fluorine-free Anta membrane signifies that China has overcome a world-class problem in the industry and will reshape the competitive landscape of high-tech fabrics.

Promoting the Sustainable Development of High-Performance Fabrics, Anta's Self-Developed Technology "Overtakes on the Straight Road"

The fluorine-free transformation of high-performance waterproof and breathable materials is a world-recognized challenge in the industry. Currently, the mainstream fluorine-free solutions in the market follow the technological routes led by international brands. To ensure the independent control of core technologies and provide more choices for consumers, Anta, in cooperation with Donghua University, developed a fluorine-free bio-based waterproof and highly breathable membrane - the fluorine-free Anta membrane - through a self-developed technological route, presenting the "Chinese solution" to the world.

Xu Yang, CEO of Anta Brand, attended and delivered a speech.

At the summit, Professor Yu Jianyong from Donghua University delivered a video speech.

Zhang Qinghua, Vice President and Professor of Donghua University, attended and delivered a speech.

The fluorine-free Anta membrane significantly improves the breathability of the material through self-developed highly moisture-conductive bio-based polymers and micro-nano structure regulation. Meanwhile, it ensures waterproof performance through technological innovations in multiple key aspects, such as fluorine-free water-repellent surface modification and fluorine-free adhesives. Tested by a third-party authoritative laboratory, the waterproof and breathable material with the fluorine-free Anta membrane has reached the international advanced level in core indicators such as hydrostatic pressure and moisture permeability (hydrostatic pressure of 18,000 mmH₂O and moisture permeability of 7,000 g/m²·24h), successfully overcoming the worldwide problem of "fluorine-free high performance".

Liu Jun, Senior Director of Anta's Technology Engineering, and Si Yang, Dean of the Donghua-Anta Joint Innovation Research Institute and Professor at Donghua University, detailed the fluorine-free technology and innovation path of the Anta membrane.

In addition, the R & D team of the fluorine-free Anta membrane innovatively uses bio-based polymers (with a bio-based content of 20%) to replace petroleum-based polymers. Compared with the fluorine-free solutions of international brands, it is more in line with the future trend of sustainable development. This not only establishes a first-mover advantage for Chinese brands but also demonstrates R & D strength sufficient to "overtake on the straight road". (Fluorine-free means that no organic fluorine compounds were added during the production of this product, and "perfluoro and polyfluoro compounds" were not detected according to GB/T31126.)

Deep Integration of Industry, Academia and Research, the Anta Model Connects the "Last 99 Kilometers" from the Laboratory to the Market

For cutting-edge scientific and technological achievements to reach the market from the laboratory, a long industrial chain from basic research, application testing to large-scale mass production needs to be completed. It's like a hundred-kilometer scientific and technological cross - country race: the technological breakthrough in the laboratory is just the first kilometer, while the subsequent testing, product optimization, and mass production processes make up the remaining 99 - kilometer crucial journey. Relying on its profound technological reserves in self-developed technology, the school - enterprise cooperation mechanism established with Donghua University, and its efficient and in - depth industrial chain integration ability, Anta achieved large-scale mass production through its self - operated garment factory, connecting the entire link from the "laboratory" to the "market". It was the first in the industry to achieve large-scale mass production of the fluorine-free Anta membrane, completing the "last 99 kilometers" of the transformation of scientific and technological achievements.

In this process, the fluorine-free Anta membrane has gone through multiple stages, including laboratory testing, R & D debugging, mass production testing, and real - world testing. The overall R & D, testing, and production process meets the international advanced standards. After more than a hundred mass production experimental tests and in - depth application verifications in various outdoor environments in cooperation with scientific research experts, it provides practical support for product optimization and technology implementation, ensuring high standards in both the yield rate and product performance stability. Thanks to Anta's mature production system and its ability to integrate industrial chain resources, the fluorine-free Anta membrane not only achieves high - performance comparable to international brands but also controls the selling price at one - third of that of international similar materials in clothing. It truly realizes the inclusive application of high - performance waterproof and breathable material technology, accelerating the promotion of green technology from the laboratory to the mass consumer market. It also provides important support for Chinese brands to gain market dominance in the global fluorine - free process of high - performance technical clothing.

Xu Yang, CEO of Anta Brand, presented the first - generation new storm jacket with the fluorine-free Anta membrane to Zhang Qinghua, Vice President of Donghua University.

"The Fabric of the 21st Century", Providing a Sustainable Solution for Global Fabric Technology Innovation

Facing the industrial wave under the future trend of sustainable development, the innovation of the "fabric of the 21st century" in the field of high - tech fabrics has become the key to technological breakthroughs and green transformation. The fluorine-free Anta membrane provides a sustainable solution to the world with China's self - developed technology. It not only indicates that Chinese brands are accelerating the sustainable transformation through scientific research and innovation but also shows their more active participation in the reconstruction of global technological dominance and market pricing power.

Round - table discussion: From following to leading, the era opportunities for innovative self - developed technology to participate in global competition (Liu Jun, Senior Director of Anta's Technology Engineering; Li Shuanke, President and Editor - in - Chief of Chinese National Geography Magazine; Pang Dan, Director of the Consumer Goods Project Team of ISPO Munich Exhibition (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. and Head of ISPO China; Wang An, Global Technical Director of SGS)

The Anta Group plans to increase the proportion of sustainable products to 50% and achieve 50% use of sustainable raw materials by 2030. The large - scale application of the fluorine-free Anta membrane marks an important step in Anta's sustainable development strategy. The new generation of the "Storm Jacket" equipped with the fluorine-free Anta membrane will be simultaneously launched in overseas markets. It is estimated that the sales volume will exceed 500,000 pieces by 2026, and it is expected to become a landmark product in the high - performance fluorine - free windbreaker market, serving as a milestone in witnessing the high - quality development of China's footwear and apparel manufacturing industry.

The new generation of the Storm Jacket equipped with the fluorine-free Anta membrane is unveiled (on - site installation)