As state-level bans on PFAS chemicals continue to roll out piecemeal across the U.S., SBI Finishing’s Chief Operating Officer Daniel Banks believes the company’s longstanding leadership in PFAS-free fabric finishing positions it to meet both changing environmental standards and customer expectations.
Numerous articles have recently reported on the movement, including https://www.wired.com/story/states-banning-pfas-forever-chemicals-industry-fighting-back/
Banks emphasized that SBI (https://sbifinishing.com/)
has offered PFAS-free finishing for years at a comparable price to traditional options. Thanks to decades of experience and advanced in-house equipment, the company delivers sustainable solutions that meet customer demands and environmental regulations alike.
“Being environmentally friendly is something that has been on our radar since my dad started the company decades ago,” said Banks. “PFAS-free is the logical extension of that philosophy.”
The decision to embrace PFAS-free was made in recognition, not only of environmental issues, but to provide its customers with a flexible menu of options.
“It has been a hallmark of the company my father, Gene Banks, started,” he said. “Besides the commitment to PFAS-free, we also reuse our chemicals, when possible, rather than just returning them to the earth after one use. We also filter unused chemicals to minimize waste. Finally, we mix our solutions very precisely and on as-needed basis to ensure minimal waste.”
Banks, who gained experience in the chemistry field before taking over the day-to-day operations of the company in 2022, acknowledged that the traditional PFAS solution is more effective in some areas than PFAS-free at the moment. “But I’m optimistic that the industry will get there one day and that there won’t even be a need for a PFAS designation. Until then, we take great pride in being the go-to company for the traditional approach as well as PFAS-free finishing.”
Lastly, Banks added that he is hopeful that the federal government will get more involved in assessing the chemicals that make up PFAS, providing more thoughtful, objective direction to the states and the industry.
“We need clarity,” Banks said. Until then, SBI will continue doing what it has been doing for years, satisfying the needs of both sets of customers.
SBI Finishing
1108 Commercial Street
Athens, TX 75751
ABOUT SBI FINISHING
SBI Finishing is a family-owned business, started in 1979. Based in Athens, Texas, it combines decades of expertise with advanced technology to provide top-tier fabric finishing, backing, and lamination services.