Crab shell in clothing - for a better environment

On average, 13 kilos of textiles are purchased per person per year and every year six to eight million tonnes of waste from crustacean shells are produced in the food industry, according to Tobias Köhnke, research leader at RISE (Sweden's research institute and innovation partner) in bio-based fibers.

Right now, a project is underway for a year and a half to develop a new generation of artificial fibers of the subject chitosan. Which is done by crustacean shells, such as crabs and shrimp.

- This project, which is being run in Mölndal, is a good example of how we can work towards a more resource-efficient society and a more sustainable environment. What is considered waste today may be tomorrow's raw material for new products, says Tobias Köhnke.

In order for artificial fiber from chitosan to become a competitive alternative to cotton and polyester in the textile industry, the strength of the fibers must be better, says Tobias Köhnke. The idea of ​​the project is to combine chitosan with another new material, namely nanocellulose and thus create strong composite fibers.

"Nanocellulose is a super-strong material found in plants and, for example, allows trees to be as tall as they are and at the same time can withstand wind and other stresses," says researcher Oleksandr Nechyporchuk to SVT News West.

They want to be able to transfer the same strengthening effects to chitosan fibers by adding nanocellulose to the fibers.

- It's really inspiring to come up with something that can have a positive global impact in the future, says Oleksandr Nechyporchuk.

When can clothing from chitosan be on the market do you think?

- We are only at the beginning of this journey. It takes a long time to reach the market and customers with new products, and there are many more studies that need to be done before this can become a reality.