A bunch of researchers at Australia’s Deakin University has found that particles produced from textile waste segregated by colour could be used as pigments for printing or colouring textiles, and also to create art.
- The research team led by Associate Professor Rangam Rajkhowa at the university’s Institute for Frontier Materials partnered with Textile Recyclers Australia, aims to use minimal water and energy and reduce the grinding time.
- The next step is to scale up the recycled pigment process to demonstrate the potential for commercial use, for which the team will work with industry partners to determine the most efficient and cost-effective methods.
- The researchers are also working with an industry partner to conduct a business and sustainability analysis and generate data on the carbon footprint.
EXHIBITION: The pigments have already been put to use by First Nations artists who have showcased their work at the Perpetual Exhibitions as part of the recent Geelong Design Week.
- The artists used the recycled pigments as paint in their works of art that included screen-printed fabric designs produced by surf brand Rip Curl in a test run for their new t-shirts.
THE METHOD: This method of pigment extraction uses existing machinery to crush the clothing down into fine particles, which are then mixed with water and beads and ground into a fine liquid. This liquid is then dried and converted into clay or powders that can be used as colouring pigments.
- This process could be key to diverting discarded clothes and other textiles from landfill, creating value from the thousands of tonnes of textiles currently thrown away.
- The research team sourced the unwanted clothing and textiles used in the project from households, retailers and industry.
FUNDING: The project is being funded by Sustainability Victoria’s Circular Economy Markets Fund and Deakin’s Science and Society Network.
WHAT THEY SAID:
Our simple but powerful approach could address the huge challenges of recycling textiles due to complexities of different colours, fibres and blends.
— Rangam Rajkhowa
Associate Professor, Institute for Frontier Materials
Deakin University
We hope this is the first step in developing new ways that waste textiles can be given a beautiful second life. It's fantastic that these recycled pigments can be used and experimented with.
— Russell Kennedy
Co-curator
Perpetual Pigments
