Protein-Based Fibres To Boost Circular Economy
US based material science company, Bloom Labs has developed a next generation alternative to synthetic and natural textile fibres, which will help for a faster transition towards a circular economy.
Bloom Labs is pioneering breakthroughs in material science by harnessing the value of natural waste by-products, a protein-rich and globally abundant raw material.
“Using bio-manufacturing, advanced protein engineering, and molecular biology, our proprietary technology plasticises waste, regenerating it into uniquely practical and versatile pellets,” Bloom Labs said.
The pellets are then spun into high-performance fibres, designed to emulate the properties of current materials as plush as cotton and silk or as functional as polyester.
“Our easily transportable ‘plug and play’ pellets can be integrated into manufacturers’ production processes, as a scalable raw material without the feedstock risks or environmental impact of petroleum,” it added.
Quoting a report of Textile Exchange, Bloom Labs said that global fibre production doubled over the past two decades, reaching 113 million tons in 2021, with projections estimating further growth to 149 million tons by 2030.
Only 8.5 per cent of global fibres in 2021 originated from recycled materials, mainly recycled polyester, while less than 1 percent of fibres were produced by recycling clothing or textiles.
“Achieving circularity and fostering material innovation is vital for the fashion industry to break free from its reliance on fossil fuels and address the impacts of linear economic systems,” Bloom Labs informed.
