Companies Make Eco-Friendly Fabrics From Coffee Grounds, Nettles
The Guardianreports that an innovative company named Singtex Industrial is making an eco-friendly fabric out of used coffee grounds. The fabric called S.cafe also provides UV protection.
The process of making fabric out of coffee grounds is very similar to that used to turn bamboo into a viscose-like material. The resultant fabric is soft, light, flexible and breathable and can also be used to produce an outer shell that is water resistant. It's impregnated with 'activated' carbon, derived from coconut, which makes it UV-resistant, wicks water away, keeps the wearer cool and binds to sweat to eliminate unpleasant odours.
Singtex says the fabric is perfect for mid and base layers for adrenalin-powered sports like rock climbing, as well as walking, running and yoga. Apparently, it only takes the grounds from one cup of coffee to make enough material for a couple of T-shirts.
Singtex also makes sportswear out of recycled plastic bottles. There are a number of companies making from fabrics from recycled bottles. The Guardianstory also says a couple companies - Camira Fabrics and Brennels - are developing fabrics from stinging nettles.
