Source:  Dr. Andre West, TEXTILE WORLD, 4/15/21

Editor’s Note: Dr. Andre West is director of the Zeis Textiles Extension for Economic Development at NC State University’s Wilson College of Textiles, Raleigh, N.C.

Sustainability can be defined as how natural systems function, remain diverse and produce everything necessary for them to remain in balance with nature. In textile science, natural plant fibers are sustainable raw materials. For humankind to exist sustainably means maintaining productivity in agriculture and ecology despite obstacles. The world’s ecosystems are under stress from the abundance of plastic production and the disposal of it. Perhaps now is the time to gain a deeper understanding of the availability of natural plant fibers for textiles.

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