Repurposing Beverage and Fruit Waste as Biocellulose Fibre and Leather-like Film
Category: Mechanical/Materials
Developers: The Hong Kong Research and Institute of Textiles and Apparel
Product Description:This technology develops sustainable textile fibres and leather-like film using beverage and fruit waste. Repurposing the bacterial cellulose (BC) film from tea fermentation, a new material for high-quality textile and handicraft applications is developed, offering an eco-friendly alternative to cotton and viscose as textiles materials and genuine/PU leather. The process recycles waste from kombucha fermentation and fruit peels to produce bacterial cellulose (BC) fibres for textiles and leather-like film for fashion accessories such as watch strap and key chains. BC is a cellulose alternative of biological origin produced by a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). It is discovered that during the fermentation of kombucha, a healthy tea-link drink, a leftover film of BC is produced. This technology involves the recycling of this BC film into fibres for textiles and leather-like film for making accessories. The process includes a new wet spinning method, covering a new dissolution solvent formula, a room-temperature dissolution process and the optimal conditions of parameters in wet spinning. This method overcomes the high crystallinity and polymerisation degree (>1500) of BC, thus enhancing fibre strength. Two additional environmental advantages are that 98% of the dissolution solvent is reusable and recyclable, as well as wasted fruit peels serve as the sugar source for tea fermentation. This project repurposes food and beverage waste into bacterial cellulose fibres, offering a sustainable alternative to cotton and viscose. Conventional cotton and viscose production face environmental challenges like pesticide use, deforestation and toxic by-products. BC fibres circumvent these issues with minimal environmental impact—requiring less water and growing in just 14 days without pesticides. This aligns with global trends towards recycled materials, meeting the EU's goal to double such usage by 2030. The technologies have secured patents from US, Hong Kong and Japan.
Developers: The Hong Kong Research and Institute of Textiles and Apparel
Product Description:This technology develops sustainable textile fibres and leather-like film using beverage and fruit waste. Repurposing the bacterial cellulose (BC) film from tea fermentation, a new material for high-quality textile and handicraft applications is developed, offering an eco-friendly alternative to cotton and viscose as textiles materials and genuine/PU leather. The process recycles waste from kombucha fermentation and fruit peels to produce bacterial cellulose (BC) fibres for textiles and leather-like film for fashion accessories such as watch strap and key chains. BC is a cellulose alternative of biological origin produced by a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). It is discovered that during the fermentation of kombucha, a healthy tea-link drink, a leftover film of BC is produced. This technology involves the recycling of this BC film into fibres for textiles and leather-like film for making accessories. The process includes a new wet spinning method, covering a new dissolution solvent formula, a room-temperature dissolution process and the optimal conditions of parameters in wet spinning. This method overcomes the high crystallinity and polymerisation degree (>1500) of BC, thus enhancing fibre strength. Two additional environmental advantages are that 98% of the dissolution solvent is reusable and recyclable, as well as wasted fruit peels serve as the sugar source for tea fermentation. This project repurposes food and beverage waste into bacterial cellulose fibres, offering a sustainable alternative to cotton and viscose. Conventional cotton and viscose production face environmental challenges like pesticide use, deforestation and toxic by-products. BC fibres circumvent these issues with minimal environmental impact—requiring less water and growing in just 14 days without pesticides. This aligns with global trends towards recycled materials, meeting the EU's goal to double such usage by 2030. The technologies have secured patents from US, Hong Kong and Japan.
