CHRISTCHURCH – In a conversation with textile technologist Colleen Ahalt-Eagle at the Performance Days trade show in Munich, she told Ecotextile News that her laboratory forensic work on synthetic fibre breakdown in New Zealand showed that existing, uniform test methods are likely inaccurate, and that microbial activity to break down plastics in the environment depends heavily on the local eco-system.
Ahalt-Eagle, who has previous experience at brands such as Target, Reebok, Kathmandu and Hanesbrands, said that while undertaking investigatory work for another global sportswear firm, her company – The BlueLab – has now developed a novel testing protocol to more accurately assess the biodegradability of synthetic polymers such as polyester.
