At the University of Colorado Boulder’s ATLAS Institute, scientists have created biofibres—made from sustainably derived materials like gelatine—that enable the creation of recyclable and dissolvable T-shirts. These fibers, which resemble flax and disintegrate in hot water in minutes to hours, can be spun using a homemade machine. This invention makes it possible to recycle used clothing and make new ones out of the same material.
A study team under the direction of Eldy Lazaro Vasquez presented their findings at the CHI Conference. According to co-author Michael Rivera, they found a way to disintegrate fabrics and reuse the gelatine to create new fibers. This long-term fix was emphasized during the Honolulu summit.
The EPA estimates that approximately 11 million tons of textile waste were disposed of in US landfills in 2018, a problem that is the subject of this investigation. To cut waste, researchers are concentrating on creative textile recycling. With the intention of igniting a new chapter in sustainable fashion, they have created a compact, reasonably priced machine that enables designers to produce their own biofibres. Vasquez believes that this technology will completely transform the fashion sector.
This study examines the growing appeal of “smart textiles,” such as the Google-designed Levi’s Trucker Jacket with Jacquard, which has sensors that link to smartphones. But since it can be difficult to separate the electronics from the denim, there are concerns about whether these clothes can be recycled. In an effort to solve this problem, scientists are looking at using animal bones as a source of gelatine to make wearable, ecological clothes.
A device that resembles a spider spinning a web is being created by researchers that extrudes a liquid gelatine mixture into thin strands using a plastic syringe. An fruit extract called genipin can be added to the fibers to strengthen them. They used cotton, conductive yarns, and gelatine fibers to develop textile sensors that are easily recyclable by dissolving the gelatine in warm water.
