Singtex Industrial Co., a world-renowned Taiwanese company known for producing functional fabrics, is out with its groundbreaking idea. The company developed a new eco-friendly product that uses fibers made from waste coffee grounds. The fabric, called “S.Cafe” is a result of three years dedication and efforts of the company to transform waste coffee grounds into eco-friendly fabric.
The eco fabric from coffee grounds has unique qualities like they dry quickly, controls odors and offers UV protection. All these aspects contribute to making the fabric eco-friendly, which the company loves to flaunt. A patented process turns the coffee grounds into yarn, which is then used to produce many styles of knitted and woven fabrics, as well as soft shell eco fabrics.
Unlike other yarns, the eco fabric is totally chemical-free and does not use any kind of unsafe materials. The process of converting the coffee grounds into fabric does not require high temperature carbonization, hence is energy efficient. One medium sized cup of the coffee grounds is capable of producing two T-shirts. As far as the washing of the eco-friendly fabric is concerned, it can be washed using plain water without any detergent.
This seems like a fantastic concept. I am continually looking for creative solutions to living a more eco-friendly lifestyle, and focusing on apparel is a big step in the right direction. Most people do not understand the energy and water waste associated with clothing manufacturing, especially the dyeing process. Dyeing fabric can take anywhere from 7 to 75 gallons of water per pound! Chemical free processes like "S. Cafe" minimize the energy and water consumption associated with clothing manufacturing. I have recently found information on another company that helps address the massive amounts of pollution and water usage normally employed by clothing manufacturers at the dyeing stage of clothing production. Their eco-friendly dye process is called AirDye (http://AirDye.com/?21) and avoids using water as well as enormously reduces the amount of pollution to the environment.
ReplyDeleteAnother interesting technology along the same lines is called Xeros was recently written about in the Economist. See the article here: (http://www.economist.com/sciencetechnology/tm/displayStory.cfm?story_id=13892738)
If anyone is aware of other eco-friendly technologies, please share!
Regards,
Ecoguy
I can spin my latte on a lathe and turn it into a top ! Madness! but I love it.
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