This company is trying to make a biodegradable alternative to spandex
1 min read
Summary
US startup Good Fibes is developing biodegradable textiles for use in stretch fabrics, using materials such as silk elastin-like proteins (SELPs) to create fibres that can be customised for qualities including tensile strength and elasticity and are more environmentally friendly than petroleum-based stretch fabrics.
The company uses 3D bioprinters to create nonwoven swatches of fabric that are strong and stretchy and can be used in items such as surgical masks and paper towels.
The company’s founders, Alexis Peña and Lauren Blake, have links with Tufts University and Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois, and are mentored by biomaterials expert Timothy McGee.
Good Fibes is in talks with major athletic retailers, who are keen to test swatches of the fabric, and Blake expects the company to be ready for commercialisation within two years.