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Designtex, a company specializing in the design and manufacturing of electronics,
offers a solution for the environmental problems derived from the use of polyesterrelated textile products.
Biopolymers and Mixed Polymers
Biopolymers do not have the same biodegradability issues as petrochemical-based
polymers. Produced from biological renewable sources including lignocellulosic
biomass, fatty acids and organic waste, these polymers are biodegradable fibres
derived from living organisms. The first biopolymers came from carbohydrate
sources including corn, potatoes and other agricultural feedstock. These are synthesized as cellulose, starch, polylactide, chitin and collagen formed in the natural
environment during the growth cycles of organisms. They can be produced through
bacterial fermentation processes by synthesizing the relevant building blocks from
these sources (Karthik and Rathinamoorthy 2017). Poly- (lactic acid) or polylactide
(PLA) fibres are made of corn starch and sugar cane and can be used for textiles in
the fashion industry. Ingeo™ fibres are produced by NatureWorks, a bioplasticpolymer manufacturing company. The company affirms that their textile products
can be used for clothing as well as household products. They can also be knitted or
weaved and resist steaming in temperatures of 80 °C for approximately 20 min.
Products can also be blended with wool (NatureWorks 2018). The company also
uses an Eco-Profile, a tool which analyses input and output data from the manufacturing process, such as “water to grow feedstocks, CO2 sequestered by plants,
energy to produce fertilizers, and greenhouse gases” (NatureWorks 2018). This data
is then used to measure environmental impacts including greenhouse gas emissions
and use of non-renewable energy.
Another case in point is Yulex Pure™, which is a company that produces a 100%
plant-based rubber. This fibre replaces Neoprene or polychloroprene, which is a
petrochemical substance made by chlorinating and polymerizing butadiene. The
company affirms that 99.9% of the harmful impurities (including proteins) are
removed from hevea becoming free from toxic chemicals. This has resulted in a
biodegradable, non-sensitizing natural elastomer that is suitable for over 40,000
product applications in the fashion industry (Yulex 2018).
Since the early 1900s, DuPont has developed polymers for the fashion industry.
One of such products is Sorona®, a fibre made of TPA (terephthalic acid) and PDO
(1,3-Propanediol). Bio-PDO is created through the fermentation of the crops glucose and chemical synthesis. Evidence shows that 37% of the polymer is made
using plant-based ingredients. DuPont states that compared to nylon 6, Sorona®
uses 30% less energy and releases 63% fewer greenhouse gas emissions (DuPont
2018). However, this fibre is neither biodegradable nor compostable because
although Sorona® is 37% plant-based, the other 63% is petroleum-based. However,
it can be considered as an option for increasing the use of renewable sources and
energy saving in the fashion industry.
16 SDG 15 Life on Land
Designtex, a company specializing in the design and manufacturing of electronics,
offers a solution for the environmental problems derived from the use of polyesterrelated textile products.
Biopolymers and Mixed Polymers
Biopolymers do not have the same biodegradability issues as petrochemical-based
polymers. Produced from biological renewable sources including lignocellulosic
biomass, fatty acids and organic waste, these polymers are biodegradable fibres
derived from living organisms. The first biopolymers came from carbohydrate
sources including corn, potatoes and other agricultural feedstock. These are synthesized as cellulose, starch, polylactide, chitin and collagen formed in the natural
environment during the growth cycles of organisms. They can be produced through
bacterial fermentation processes by synthesizing the relevant building blocks from
these sources (Karthik and Rathinamoorthy 2017). Poly- (lactic acid) or polylactide
(PLA) fibres are made of corn starch and sugar cane and can be used for textiles in
the fashion industry. Ingeo™ fibres are produced by NatureWorks, a bioplasticpolymer manufacturing company. The company affirms that their textile products
can be used for clothing as well as household products. They can also be knitted or
weaved and resist steaming in temperatures of 80 °C for approximately 20 min.
Products can also be blended with wool (NatureWorks 2018). The company also
uses an Eco-Profile, a tool which analyses input and output data from the manufacturing process, such as “water to grow feedstocks, CO2 sequestered by plants,
energy to produce fertilizers, and greenhouse gases” (NatureWorks 2018). This data
is then used to measure environmental impacts including greenhouse gas emissions
and use of non-renewable energy.
Another case in point is Yulex Pure™, which is a company that produces a 100%
plant-based rubber. This fibre replaces Neoprene or polychloroprene, which is a
petrochemical substance made by chlorinating and polymerizing butadiene. The
company affirms that 99.9% of the harmful impurities (including proteins) are
removed from hevea becoming free from toxic chemicals. This has resulted in a
biodegradable, non-sensitizing natural elastomer that is suitable for over 40,000
product applications in the fashion industry (Yulex 2018).
Since the early 1900s, DuPont has developed polymers for the fashion industry.
One of such products is Sorona®, a fibre made of TPA (terephthalic acid) and PDO
(1,3-Propanediol). Bio-PDO is created through the fermentation of the crops glucose and chemical synthesis. Evidence shows that 37% of the polymer is made
using plant-based ingredients. DuPont states that compared to nylon 6, Sorona®
uses 30% less energy and releases 63% fewer greenhouse gas emissions (DuPont
2018). However, this fibre is neither biodegradable nor compostable because
although Sorona® is 37% plant-based, the other 63% is petroleum-based. However,
it can be considered as an option for increasing the use of renewable sources and
energy saving in the fashion industry.
16 SDG 15 Life on Land