e-textiles

Andreas Köhler at the University of Delft, whose dissertation research focuses on the disposal of e-textiles, has spent the past two years interviewing engineers, designers, and public officials about the above concerns.

Reid Lifset: Is This the Next Time? The Need for More Responsible Innovation Reid Lifset 2011

These e-textiles, or "smart" textiles, integrate electronics capable of collecting and sending information into the fibers of clothing.

Reid Lifset: Is This the Next Time? The Need for More Responsible Innovation Reid Lifset 2011

Imagine how e-textiles will contribute to these mountains, their obsolescence a factor of both advancing technology and the rapid cycles of seasonal fashion.

Reid Lifset: Is This the Next Time? The Need for More Responsible Innovation Reid Lifset 2011

Even if there existed an effective system for collecting the profusion of consumer electronics, there is no technology today capable of recycling e-textiles: sent to standard electronics recyclers, e-textiles will jam shredding machines; sent to textile recyclers, the metal content will contaminate recycling streams.

Reid Lifset: Is This the Next Time? The Need for More Responsible Innovation Reid Lifset 2011

Andreas Köhler at the University of Delft, whose dissertation research focuses on the disposal of e-textiles, has spent the past two years interviewing engineers, designers, and public officials about the above concerns.

Reid Lifset: Is This the Next Time? The Need for More Responsible Innovation Reid Lifset 2011

Margarita Benitez, who works with e-textiles at Kent State University, noted in an email exchange that, "unfortunately, most folks involved in the field are... not necessarily considering end of life or taking a cradle-to-cradle mentality in designing e-textiles."

Reid Lifset: Is This the Next Time? The Need for More Responsible Innovation Reid Lifset 2011

Andreas Köhler at the University of Delft, whose dissertation research focuses on the disposal of e-textiles, has spent the past two years interviewing engineers, designers, and public officials about the above concerns.

Reid Lifset: Is This the Next Time? The Need for More Responsible Innovation Reid Lifset 2011

Even if there existed an effective system for collecting the profusion of consumer electronics, there is no technology today capable of recycling e-textiles: sent to standard electronics recyclers, e-textiles will jam shredding machines; sent to textile recyclers, the metal content will contaminate recycling streams.

Reid Lifset: Is This the Next Time? The Need for More Responsible Innovation Reid Lifset 2011

Andreas Köhler at the University of Delft, whose dissertation research focuses on the disposal of e-textiles, has spent the past two years interviewing engineers, designers, and public officials about the above concerns.

Reid Lifset: Is This the Next Time? The Need for More Responsible Innovation Reid Lifset 2011

Margarita Benitez, who works with e-textiles at Kent State University, noted in an email exchange that, "unfortunately, most folks involved in the field are... not necessarily considering end of life or taking a cradle-to-cradle mentality in designing e-textiles."

Reid Lifset: Is This the Next Time? The Need for More Responsible Innovation Reid Lifset 2011