Microbial Leather; the feasibility of bacterial cellulose food waste composites as alternative biotextiles

We live on a planet of mindless production, depleting resources, and endless waste. Which means that the balance of our biotic community is constantly being threatened. In the midst of a materialistic uproar, we are tasked with the responsibility to attempt to shift the balance back to its correct state. The textile and leather industry is ever growing and well renowned for its negative environmental impacts. This thesis tackled this issue in the form of material innovation. If we cannot protect the public from the impacts of fast fashion, we must attempt to ensure that what they are consuming is environmentally friendly through out its entire life cycle, from production, to disposal, and everything in between.

Aim & Methods

This thesis is focused on grown bacterial cellulose, a sheet material grown on the surface of a brew of tea and sugar by yeast and bacteria. Although this material has been growing more popular in the design field, it has limitations. The research was based on overcoming several of these such as; homogeneity in colour, and thickness and improving aesthetic and haptic diversity as well as appeal, thus improving the workability of the material. This is done through a wide array of experimentation processes such as composite growing, blending, and coating. All experiments were subject to tensile strength tests. Via the exploration of previously existing literature accompanied with new compositing techniques and tests results were gathered. From this series, 5 composite materials were developed and applied in the context of fashion in order to prove the feasibility of bacterial cellulose food waste composites as alternative biotextiles.