Archroma and Nicca Chemical Collaboration Announcement
Archroma and Nicca Chemical are collaborating to support the continued growth of ZELANTM non-fluorinated durable water repellents (DWRs) across the global textile industry. The announcement follows Nicca’s acquisition of the ZELANTM business from The Chemours Company in March 2026 and extends Archroma’s decade-long legacy with the ZELANTM brand.
Archroma’s role as ZELANTM’s global distribution, marketing, and technical support partner dates to the 2015 launch of Teflon EcoEliteTM with ZELANTM R3 by Chemours and Huntsman Textile Effects, which Archroma acquired in 2023.
Under the new agreement with Nicca, Archroma will continue as the exclusive textile industry distributor of ZELANTM DWR products and the related Teflon EcoEliteTM technology worldwide. Archroma will spearhead marketing initiatives for the solutions and provide technical support to mills and brands worldwide, as before. ZELANTM-finished textiles will also qualify for Archroma’s upcoming HIGH IQ® lastingrepelPRO assurance program, giving brands a well-recognized consumer-facing mark of DWR performance, durability, and sustainability.
The industry’s first renewably sourced DWR, ZELANTM R3 remains one of the most significant perfluorochemical (PFAS)-free DWRs available today. It contains 63% plant-based materials – sourced from non-GMO and non-food-source feedstock – and offers excellent water repellency and outstanding durability while preserving breathability across all fiber types.
“When we acquired the ZELANTM business, we inherited more than top-tier technology — we inherited the trust that mills and brands have placed in this platform for over a decade. Keeping Archroma as our exclusive distribution partner for the textile industry means that trust doesn’t have to be rebuilt. Customers get the same product, the same Teflon EcoEliteTM support, and the same partner they already know,” said a spokesperson from Nicca.
“PFAS-free durable water repellents have moved from a niche alternative to a baseline expectation for major outdoor and outerwear brands, and ZELANTM has been central to that shift. As Nicca’s exclusive distribution partner for the textile industry, we’re supporting customers through this transition with uninterrupted supply and technical support everywhere they do business,” said Roland Borufka, Product Manager, Finishing and Technical Textiles, Archroma.
