The word shoddy first came to use in 1832, referring to an early form of recycling in which old wool was shredded and spun with new wool to form a fabric. Nearly two centuries later, textile recycling still follows a similar process. But todays textiles are blends of different materials, from synthetics to natural materials. Additionally, garments are dyed or include hardware such as buttons or rivet closures. When clothing is sent to a textile recycler, the consumer might assume their item will be repurposed, however without knowing what a shirt or pair of socks is made of, the textile recycler is at a loss.
This gap is where Brian Iezzi, founder of , sees opportunity. Global fashion is considered the second most polluting sector, after oil and gas. Fibarcode is at the critical juncture between making textiles and making the process more environmentally and socially sustainable, Iezzi said. Fibarcodes technology integrates an engineered photonic "barcode" into a fiber, which can then be scanned with handheld spectroscopes. When the fiber is turned into a textile, it has a digital label that will exist through all stages of its life, offering transparency to the garments composition and origin.
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that only about 13% of clothing is recycled in the United States, with most clothing sent to landfills. Recycling centers struggle to process clothes, because few items have labels, and those labels often contain incorrect or misleading information. Iezzi added, Fibarcode can provide transparency through the supply chain for consumers and recyclers. Looking ahead, that information could be necessary for regulations requiring that companies develop digital product passports [digital records that provide comprehensive information about a product, including disposal].
Iezzi recently joined Cohort 2024 of Innovation Crossroads, a Department of Energy Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship program node at 91做厙. Innovation Crossroads partners Iezzi with ORNL researchers developing transformative technology to overcome challenges such as climate change. Iezzi will be working with Merlin Theodore and Daniel Webb in ORNLs Manufacturing Science Division.
I was drawn to Innovation Crossroads because of the labs technical capabilities. When I researched the goals of DOEs Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office in developing more circular economies, I saw we were a good fit, said Iezzi. At ORNL, I have access to invaluable equipment and expertise to iterate with new materials for our labels. ORNLs user facilities, like the Carbon Fiber Technology Facility, have technology that I otherwise wouldnt have access to as a startup. In addition to gaining technical knowledge, Iezzi will learn from industry mentors, as part of Innovation Crossroads emphasis on helping energy startups develop from idea to market.
I was drawn to Innovation Crossroads because of the labs technical capabilities. At ORNL, I have access to invaluable equipment and expertise to iterate with new materials for our labels. ORNLs user facilities, like the Carbon Fiber Technology Facility, have technology that I otherwise wouldnt have access to as a startup.
Iezzi founded his first startup at North Carolina State University, where he earned his bachelors degree in textile engineering and kickstarted his interest in entrepreneurship. He later earned his doctorate in materials science and engineering from the University of Michigan, where he developed the idea for Fibarcode. I had an advisor who said that scientists can develop a product, but an entrepreneur is the one who shepherds that idea into the world. Its more than starting a company; you have the potential to make sure your idea continues to uphold your values.
As manufacturers and customers prioritize reducing fashions environmental impact, recycling and reusing existing textiles is essential. Fibarcode is positioned to tackle these issues and support a stronger circular economy for textiles, interrupting the current, linear life cycle of a garment.
Iezzis fellowship is supported by DOEs Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office, or AMMTO. Innovation Crossroads is funded by AMMTO, DOEs Building Technologies Office, the DOE Office of Science Basic Energy Sciences program and the Tennessee Valley Authority.
UT-Battelle manages ORNL for the Department of Energys Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. The Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit . Brynn Downing
