Potato yarn may cut the fashion industry's environmental footprint | New Scientist

Thread that contains the part of a potato plant that is normally thrown away could be a sustainable alternative to pure cotton

By Madeleine Cuff

29 August 2024

Potato fibres can be made into soft balls that resemble cotton

Fibe

Fabric made from waste potato plants could offer a more sustainable alternative to pure cotton, as pressure grows on the fashion industry to reduce its environmental impact.

Potatoes pose a headache for farmers. The tubers are harvested and eaten, but the above-ground plant contains the poison solanine, so can’t be used for animal feed. Farmers usually pulverise or incinerate this matter before potatoes are harvested.

Now, UK start-up Fibe wants to avoid this by extracting fibres from potato stems to make a sustainable fabric. In April, it…

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