Every year, the oceans contain at least fourteen million tons of plastic. This alarming statistic impacts marine animals greatly as their own home is being invaded by foreign objects that humans didn’t recycle properly. Fortunately, scientists made fabrics from plastic that can reduce this amount and also in an attempt to make the fashion industry more sustainable.

Regarding what the new product is, it is made from fibers of plastic that is then “woven on industrial looms into textiles that are designed to be comfortable to wear” (BBC). Furthermore, it can be dyed into various colors for diversity.

This isn’t like other types of material used for clothing such as polyester. Polyester is derived from petroleum and isn’t biodegradable, meaning that it cannot be decomposed naturally. Therefore, it is best to not throw them away.

Similarly, this isn’t like a regular plastic bag one would likely get from a grocery store. Those bags repel water while this plastic fabric is hydrophilic. Even though it can lose that ability over time, one can simply use friction or expose it to ultraviolet light to revive it. This ability allows it to develop into more clothing-like and not like a regular plastic bag.

This invention is best used for sportswear and leggings due to it being able to self-cool, but more possibilities are on their way.

From a bird’s eye view, it is difficult to see the difference, so people wouldn’t comment, “You’re wearing plastic”. Even if they do, sometimes, reinventing objects and innovating can create something better for everyone, especially the planet.

It is also important to consider laundry. People throw their dirty clothes in the laundry when they have clothes to wash. Nevertheless, with the plastic fabric, it is stain-resistant, which indicates that it doesn’t need as much washing. Surprisingly, unless one chooses to wash their clothes by hand, it produces 3.3 kilograms of carbon dioxide in a load washed at sixty degrees Celsius. The more carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere, the worse climate change is going to become.

This product will provide humans with new clothes, make the ocean cleaner, and prevent marine animals from suffering unnecessarily as a result of humans’ actions. It goes without saying that this will benefit everyone.

Elizabeth Gao

Portola High School 11th Grade

<ElizabethGao Portola High School 11th Grade>