In 2013 we partnered with Levi Strauss &Co. and Biomimicry 3.8 to identify and evaluate potential biomimetic approaches to fabric finishing that would eliminate the use of formaldehyde and diisocyanates. Students worked alongside industrial partners to identify the most promising replacement materials and have identified a number of inherently less hazardous approaches to fabric finishes which will need to be tested in the lab. At the end of the semester a few of the students were interested in testing one or two of the new ideas in lab. These initial lab investigations have made it possible for Marty Mulvihill and other BCGC researchers to develop a funded project focused in new safer and more sustainable strategies for fabric dyeing and finishing.
New Approaches in Cotton Cross-Linking (Green Team)
Biomimetic Chemical Alternatives for Fabric Finishing with Levi Strauss & Co. (Blue Team)