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<\/p>\nBiodegradable materials are now being used in the production of garments as the entire fashion industry is being reorganized centering on sustainability. Webster\u2019s Dictionary defines biodegradable as \u201ccapable of being broken down especially into innocuous products by the action of living things (such as microorganisms)\u201d<\/p>\n
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Organic cotton, silk, wool, cashmere, hemp, linen and other natural materials are biodegradable. On the other hand, chemical-based materials such as polyester, spandex, nylon, and rayon take a very long time to decompose.<\/p>\n
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<Chemical Fiber and Natural Fiber> \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Down is biodegradable. Bird feathers and down are composed of a protein called keratin. Feathers and down that have been cleaned and dried can be stored semi-permanently if kept dry and out of contact with microorganisms; however, they are degraded by microorganisms if they come into contact with water or soil in nature.<\/p>\n The residue leftover when feathers are biodegraded are abundant in organic matter, so they are processed and used as feed for livestock, or used as compost.<\/p>\n <Biodegraded Feather Component Analysis Table <Experiments using the residue of biodegraded feathers as fertilizer <\/p>\n <International Annual Fiber Production> <\/p>\n Since the invention of polyester in 1941, the use of polyester has soared due to the economics and convenience of mass production, and it has grown to account for more than 50% of global fiber production as of 2017. However, polyester-based fiber produced this way ends up in landfills and causes environmental pollution. In order to reduce this, various brands are making efforts to produce fibers by recycling industrial waste or producing biodegradable chemical fibers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Swedish outdoor brand Houdini<\/a> has unveiled its biodegradable collection. The company produces fertilizer by biodegrading clothes that have reached the end of their useful life and even cooks up delicious meals using the vegetables grown using this fertilizer for nourishment.<\/p>\n <Houdini Menu> <\/p>\n R\u00f6jk Superwear<\/a>, a Swedish outdoor brand, has declared that by 2020, all of its products will be made of natural and biodegradable materials – from zippers to buttons, fabrics, and dyes throughout all processes.<\/p>\n AlgiNnit<\/a>, a New-York-based biomaterials company, is producing fibers out of seaweed and developing natural dyeing methods using bacteria.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nImage source: T for Textile<\/a><\/p>\nIs Down Biodegradable?<\/h4>\n
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\n– Rich in Organic Matter and Nitrogen, and Eco-Friendly><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/prauden.co.kr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/1-3.png\")
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\n– The further to the right, the more feather residue is mixed with the soil, and the fresher the plants appear.>
\nSource: Poultry feather waste management and effects on plant growth
\nby J. C. Joardar \u00b7 M. M. Rahman<\/p>\nHigh Chemical-Based Fiber Production Rate<\/h4>\n
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\nSource: Textile Exchange<\/p>\nCompanies Involved in the Use of Biodegradable Materials<\/h4>\n
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\nImage Source: SUSTON<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/prauden.co.kr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/1-6l.png\")
<AlgiKnit knit panel sample (left), fabric dyed with seaweed (right)>
\nImage source: Material Driven<\/a>, Scientific American<\/a><\/p>\n