Textiles from greenhouse gases filtered from the air = clothes that reduce the greenhouse effect

Soon it is likely that your wardrobe will consist of garments made from air! This is because, in the near-future, it will be possible to create textile fibers from greenhouse gases filtered from the air. The result? Clothes that reduce the greenhouse effect.

Clothes made from greenhouse gases and air. This is not science fiction, but a real project being carried out by the Swedish innovation environment Smart Textiles. Why settle for producing clothes in an as environmentally friendly way as possible, when we can simply make garments which literally make a positive contribution to the environment!

"If we succeed the technic has the potential to be a game changer within the textile industry", says Lena-Marie Jensen, coordinator of the project "From Air".

Positive for the environment

Together with researchers at the University of Borås, Sweden, Smart Textiles is committed in an innovative project aimed to bring a systematic shift in the textile industry using a new methane filtration production method. While binding methane gas in textiles, the same amount of gas in the atmosphere decreases, which has a positive effect at the climate. Today's consumer society emits large quantities of greenhouse gases, which increases the greenhouse effect. As a consequence, the new method leads to garments which are actually good for the environment.  

"Today, half of all textile fibers are synthetic, e.g. polyester, produced from fossil-based raw materials", says Lena-Marie Jensen.

"If we can replace these with fibers that bind greenhouse gases, we get a double environmental effect by both reducing the fossil fuel use, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions."

Prototype made from air

The goal is to develop a concrete product made from greenhouse gases and air in order to demonstrate to the market that it is possible. Hopefully it will also make consumers understand the importance of buying climate-smart product. If we can achieve a cycle where the producer and the retailer can make it simple for the customer to leave garments to be repaired or recycled, textile fibers never has to become garbage again.  

Provided by University of Borås