Development of a New Poly-L-Lactic Acid Polymer Textile and Material Production Process Using Food Waste as Feedstock

尽管聚乳酸（PLA）在可持续材料领域越来越受欢迎，但这种生物聚合物尚未在地球上污染最严重的行业之一——纺织制造中得到利用。随着对时尚的需求不断增长，纺织品生产不能继续以牺牲地球为代价。 ALT TEX 是一家新兴的生物清洁技术公司，已向 EDC 筹集了 150 万美元用于商业化支持和出口市场开发，最近被创意破坏性实验室接纳，正在为具有生态意识的时尚零售商创造可持续的面料解决方案。 PLA 在纺织品应用中的最佳使用已通过 ALT TEX 的研究得到验证。然而，有机会提高可持续性。拟议与兰姆顿学院生物工业过程研究中心 (BPRC) 和 ALT TEX 的合作项目将重点开发一种以食物垃圾为原料生产的聚左旋乳酸聚合物。此外，修改其机械性能以创建服装级聚合物，该聚合物能够满足纺织品制造和服装生命周期的机械和热规格。拟议研究的目标是开发一种基于新技术的新型可生物降解纺织和服装材料生产工艺，并为大规模生产提供机会。该项目的成功将推动该公司在大型合成织物领域的发展。从长远来看，通过预计每年占领 15-20 个品牌的市场，这项创新有望创造高达 40 亿美元的年度经常性收入。此外，确保现有就业并在公司创造额外的直接全职职位。该技术将使加拿大处于可持续化学技术的前沿，为安大略省南部发展生物中心做出贡献，并发展加拿大的纺织业。

Despite the growing popularity of polylactic acid (PLA) in the field of sustainable materials, the biopolymerhas yet to be leveraged in one of the most polluting industries on the planet - textile manufacturing. As thedemand for fashion continues to grow, textile production cannot continue to happen at the cost of the planet. A rising bio cleantech company that raised $1.5M with EDC for commercialization support and export market development and recently accepted into the Creative Destructive Lab, ALT TEX is creating sustainable fabric solutions for eco-conscious fashion retailers. The optimality of PLA's use in textile applications has been validated through ALT TEX's research. However, there is an opportunity to improve sustainability. The proposed collaborative project with Lambton College's Bio-industrial Process Research Center (BPRC) and ALT TEX will focus on developing a Poly-L-Lactic Acid polymer, generated using food waste as the feedstock. Further, modifying its mechanical properties to create an apparel-grade polymer that holds the mechanical and thermal specifications of textile manufacturing and apparel lifecycle.The goal of the proposed research is to develop a new biodegradable textile and clothing materialproduction process based on novel technology and provide the opportunity for large-scale production. The project's success will propel the presence of the company in the large synthetic fabrics sector. Over thelong term, this innovation has the potential to create up to $4 billion in annual recurring revenue, through theprojected market capture of 15-20 brands annually. Further, securing existing employment and creatingadditional direct full-time positions at the company. This technology will place Canada on the cutting edgeof sustainable chemistry technology, contribute to the developing bio-hub in southern Ontario, and grow Canada's textile industry.