Bioengineers at the Laboratory Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering in Zurich, Switzerland have recently developed a new biopolymer that may change the future of textiles and slaughterhouse waste. Bioengineer Wendelin Stark is leading the team in creating a process that would break down discarded animal parts into a gelatin that is spun and solidified into spools of wool-like yarn and other types of fabrics.
Wearing a sweater or scarf woven from the unused parts of livestock may be a turnoff to some, but the process could actually help reduce our environmental footprint. As Margaret Rhodes details in her article for Wired, Europe alone produces 25 million tons of slaughterhouse waste per year. The majority of this waste is left in landfills, where it produces copious amounts of soil and water pollution. This new textile production can repurpose the waste and create something that everyone needs. The new gelatin would also cut down on the textile industry’s use of petroleum to make fabrics like polyester, nylon, and spandex.
Regardless of the “ick” factor, this could be a major revolution in the worlds of textiles and waste management. Imagine creating soft, usable fabric while making our planet cleaner in the process. Wouldn’t you rather wear a cozy pair of bio-mittens than add to a toxic landfill?