Electronic textiles (e-textiles) are evolving towards a sustainable future through the adoption of innovative wearable e-textiles aligned with the principles of the 4R design concept: repair, recycle, replace and reduce.
E-textiles, worn close to the skin, find applications in healthcare, gaming, athletics and environmental monitoring, thanks to embedded electronic components that enable energy storage, sensing, display, actuation and computation.
While the potential of e-textiles is vast, there are two critical challenges to their widespread adoption and environmental sustainability. First, high costs hinder consumer adoption, and second, mass production of e-textiles poses environmental concerns, particularly microplastic water pollution.
In a study published in the journal Nature Materials, the research team introduces the 4R design concept, which encompasses repair, recycle, replace, and reduce as key principles. It calls for innovative materials selection and biofabrication-inspired processing methods.
The team raises concerns about the e-textile supply chain and its potential environmental burden, exacerbated by the increasing use of nanomaterials in e-textiles. Some of these nanomaterials can present environmental challenges and potential health risks, such as skin irritation and the absorption of loose nanoparticles into the skin. Therefore, the 4R design concept could pave the way for environmentally friendly e-textiles.
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