Responsible Consumption and Production, High School, Materials Science Science Projects (3 results)

Can you imagine clothing, handbags, or shoes made from seaweed or spider silk? To become more sustainable, the textile industry is looking for ways to develop more eco-friendly fabrics. Biofabrics derived from living organisms such as seaweed or bacteria have been proposed as a potential alternative to conventional fibers. In this science project, you will make several biofabrics from alginate (seaweed) and conduct tests to find out which one is most suitable as a textile replacement. Read more

LivingLoom looks at how plants can take an active role in making textiles instead of just being used as raw materials. By spinning microgreen seeds into biodegradable yarns, the textiles can actually sprout and grow over time. The project opens up new ways to think about sustainable, care-based design, and invites us to rethink how we connect with plant life through the things we make and use. Read more

Plastics are made of polymers, chemical structures containing many repeated subunits. How does the polymer type of a plastic affect the biodegradability of the plastic? Do research on how plastic is made and what types of polymers are used for making different plastics. Can you learn to make your own plastic? What materials can you use for making plastic that is biodegradable? Test biodegradability by burying plastic samples for different lengths of time. (Kadar, 2004) Reducing solid waste and… Read more