Document Type
Honors Thesis
Abstract
Plastic is all around us in modern America and in the world. Plastic is found in our vehicles, clothing, houses—it’s even made its way into our food, our septic systems, our oceans, and even our rain (Seferian). Plastic waste is a very pressing issue that brings up many environmental challenges: microplastics, landfill buildup, air pollution, soil contamination, water contamination etc. The textile industry is a major contributor to plastic pollution with the rise of fast fashion (Bandera). To combat this, textile and environmental scientists are exploring ways to transform plastic waste into usable textile materials through upcycling, “transforming mixed plastic wastes into new products with enhanced utility” (Tang). One promising solution involves the use of compatibilizers, chemical additives that are added to plastic waste that improve their quality to mimic a new material or textile. This research has been performed by Dr. Izabela Ciesielski-Wrobel as she tackles the issue of ocean plastic pollution and reinventing those discarded materials into textiles. The goal of the study is to gain a comprehensive, in-depth understanding of the process of turning plastic waste into textile materials, including the benefits and tradeoffs, as well as the overall environmental impact. To achieve these results a case study was focused on Dr. Ciesielski-Wrobel’s work as well as research exploring other innovations around plastic waste recycling in the textile sphere. The author found in their results that methods being used to recycle plastic waste are making them stronger and more durable, which is a great opportunity to slow the rate of microplastic pollution and even stop it. However, challenges like cost, textile quality, and large-scale adoption remain a barrier.
Repository Citation
Rasmussen, Abigael, "Trash to Textiles: The Journey of Recycled Plastic in Fashion" (2025). Honors Theses - Providence Campus. 73.
https://scholarsarchive.jwu.edu/student_scholarship/73
