The Empel Nø-Wick product prevents wicking more effectively than any competing chemistry while remaining 100% water-free and PFAS-free. The adoption by Gold Long John is said to be instrumental in creating sustainable, high-performing footwear for many leading footwear brands around the world.

"Our Oeko Tex-certified Empel platform is a solution for the future,” said Martin Flora, president of global business development, Green Theme Technology (GTT). “It creates the highest performing finishes available, all without the use of water or PFAS chemicals. Gold Long John was our first major footwear mill adopter in Asia and has been instrumental in providing the commercial readiness needed for major footwear brands to easily adopt Empel Nø-Wick. Because of their contribution and input, we’re now able to scale our clean chemistry throughout SE Asia and make a real difference in the fight against water, carbon and chemical pollution, all while providing the world’s best performance.”

Gold Long John was the first major footwear mill that helped GTT commercialise Empel. In 2023, Gold Long John installed the Empel proprietary production machinery in its Vietnam factory and is now moving forward with plans to install machinery in its Taiwan facility. The proprietary machinery changes the way in which anti-wicking chemistries are molecularly bonded to footwear, protecting them from inclement weather.

“Green Theme and their Empel products will help us stay at the forefront of global sustainability solutions, allowing us to supply our footwear brands with highly innovative, cleaner, better-performing materials for their products,” said Kevin Wen, president of Gold Long John. “We see this as a win for us, for our partner brands, and for global environmental sustainability efforts.”