Chemistry is growing tomorrow's fashion today
The impact of fast fashion on the planet is costly; PVCs used in the manufacturing process are harmful for the environment, particularly for waterways and wildlife. Chemists are tackling this challenge by creating sustainable alternatives for the fashion industry and beyond.
Dr Raquel Prado and her team at Ananas Anam have developed ‘Piñatex’ fibres from pineapple leaves to be used to make clothing and shoes. Piñatex is the first material of its kind that can be used as a direct alternative to current, more harmful materials, and it’s changing the world we live in, one pineapple at a time.
They are not the only ones turning plant waste into everyday products. Chemical scientist Dr Florence Gschwend, who co-founded Lixea as part of her PhD research whilst at Imperial College, has created a low cost sustainable process that separates the sugars in plant wastes from farming and forestry so that they can be used as valuable biofuels and biochemicals.
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Chemistry is
painting a new picture for households
PLFs are part of our lives, but the way they’re made, used and disposed of is unsustainable. How is the chemical sciences community coming together to change this picture?
helping itself to become more sustainable
Advances in chemical sciences play an important role in improving our lives. But what is the chemical sciences community doing to make their practices more sustainable?
reducing waste
Plastic has long been the answer for food packaging, but single-use plastics cause significant environmental damage. How are chemical scientists creating sustainable alternatives?