Researchers are coming up with an alternative solution to address the tiny fibres released during clothing manufacturing, composed of polyester, which constitute a significant portion of microplastics found in the natural environment.
The Bio-Optimized Technologies to Keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment (Bottle) consortium is focusing on polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) as a sustainable and biodegradable substitute for conventional petroleum-based polyester. The North Face has joined forces with a team from the United States Department of Energy to investigate the potential of this alternative solution.
Katrina Knauer, the chief technology officer of the Bottle Consortium, highlighted that PHAs can naturally degrade without requiring a highly controlled composting environment. The consortium has developed a range of PHAs with diverse properties, some of which mimic traditional polyester but are derived from renewable sources and offer enhanced recyclability.
The collaboration between The North Face and the Bottle consortium aims to introduce these sustainable materials to the outdoor apparel industry. Over the next year, Bottle will scale up the production of PHA fibres for testing in select product lines by The North Face.
Carol Shu, senior manager for global sustainability at The North Face, emphasised the brand’s commitment to creating high-performance products with reduced environmental impact. This initiative aligns with The North Face’s focus on material innovation and circular product design, showcasing a dedication to sustainability.
The project will prioritise assessing the energy and carbon footprint associated with manufacturing and recycling PHA fibres. Additionally, the teams will evaluate the biodegradability of PHA fibres under different environmental conditions. These findings will enable The North Face to compare the sustainability of PHA textiles against traditional polyester and potentially introduce a line of more environmentally friendly gear.
Bottle’s PHAs offer a more sustainable option than conventional polyester due to their recyclability. By enhancing the mechanical toughness of PHA for chemical recyclability, Bottle’s technology enables the breakdown of PHA fibres into pure chemical building blocks that can be reused indefinitely, promoting a circular economy approach to textile production.
