Preeti Arya, Textile Development and Marketing, has developed a bio-based, biodegradable textile using a combination of lab-grown materials including SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) made from kombucha. In addition to its earth-friendly properties, the new composite is also edible.
Her son had challenged her to create the textile. He knew about her interest in sustainability and asked, “Why don’t you make something completely biodegradable?” She applied for and received a Faculty Development Grant and a Sustainability Grant to fund the research.
Arya experimented with various combinations of materials. It took a few attempts to get the mix right.
Vartest Laboratories, an independent New York City textile-testing lab, found that the material was strong enough for numerous applications, including as a bag, wallet, or glasses case.