ALT Learn about advances in sustainability of textile production – join us on 31 March

ALT Workers load unwanted polyester textiles into the Project Re:Claim system, the first commercial-scale polyester recycling plant of its kind, last year in Kettering, England. Leon Neal/Getty Images

ALT The weave of nylon stockings under a microscope shows how the threads are much smoother and more crystalline than natural fibres. — It's all down to the fibres: To know more about clothing shrinkage, we first need to understand a little about how textiles are made.

ALT Recent analysis challenges the eco-credentials of fabrics widely perceived as sustainable. Bamboo—commonly touted for its environmental virtues—is often processed into chemically intensive rayon, misleadingly marketed as “green,” with fewer than 5 % truly processed mechanically. Organic cotton, though pesticide-free, still consumes approximately 2,700 L of water per t-shirt—equivalent to three years of drinking water for one person. Even recycled polyester, while diverting plastic from landfills, contributes significantly to ocean microplastic pollution. These findings underscore the prevalence of greenwashing and the need for transparent, lifecycle-based assessment of textile sustainability.

ALT A realistic and detailed image depicting textile fibers designed to deliver drugs, closely replicating the provided reference picture. The image features cross-sections of textile fibers with visible hollow structures for drug delivery. The left side shows a yellow fiber with a hollow center, while the right side shows a fiber with a purple liquid core, surrounded by a textured surface. The background is minimalistic, emphasizing the advanced technology and innovative application of these drug-delivering textile fibers.

ALT U of A researchers are working on a virus-killing compound that could be applied to protective equipment like medical gowns and masks to prevent the spread of diseases including COVID-19. (Photo: Getty Images)