By Cameron Walker and Jitong Li<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the spring of 2018, graduate students taught by <\/span>Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management<\/span><\/a> professor <\/span>Dr. Karen K. Leonas<\/span><\/a> partnered with industry leaders from <\/span>American & Efird<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>The Sustainability Consortium<\/span><\/a> to work on pressing sustainability concerns in the textile field. Through two separate projects, graduate students in TTM 591 sought solutions to problems in the areas of dyes and chemicals, packaging sustainability, recycling and wastewater. They learned along the way that although these challenges are complex and industry-wide, small groups of enthusiastic minds can make great strides toward change. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
American & Efird<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n“We\u2019ve been given the Earth and its resources to enjoy, which requires taking care of it for future generations to be able to enjoy as much as we do.” – Textile Engineering graduate student Julia Kempf<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Master of Textiles<\/span><\/a> student Julia Kinney worked on the recycling project.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lilah Halbkat, working toward her <\/span>Master of Science in Textiles<\/span><\/a>, volunteered for the packaging project.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Master of Science in Textile Engineering<\/a> student Julia Kempf learned much during her work on the project.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Sustainability Consortium<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) is a global nonprofit organization comprised of manufacturers, service providers, retailers, suppliers, academics, civil society organizations, governmental agencies and more who are working to develop more sustainable consumer goods. Leonas is co-chair of the organization\u2019s <\/span>Clothing, Footwear and Textiles<\/span><\/a> committee, which identified wastewater management as a key issue at its 2017 summit; the committee designated a task force to work on the problem, called the Wastewater Challenge Project, including members from <\/span>Wrangler<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>HanesBrands<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Fruit of the Loom<\/span><\/a> and others. Six students from TTM 591 assisted the task force on the project. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was thoroughly impressed with the contributions of the project team from <\/span>NC State<\/span><\/a> to our wastewater project,\u201d said Philip Henson, senior manager of energy and environmental sustainability at HanesBrands. \u201cThe Wastewater Challenge project is in its infancy stage and has the potential to reshape the treatment of textile water discharge in areas of the world that are most impacted by poor treatment practices and direct wastewater discharge. The team was given the difficult task of researching the landscape of current treatment practices and synthesizing tons of data for presentation to an audience of industry experts. I was proud of the NC State team for their involvement in the project; they met the challenge and delivered a very professional presentation at The Sustainability Consortium\u2019s 2018 Summit.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Students met with Leonas frequently to share information and set goals. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
By Cameron Walker and Jitong Li<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the spring of 2018, graduate students taught by <\/span>Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management<\/span><\/a> professor <\/span>Dr. Karen K. Leonas<\/span><\/a> partnered with industry leaders from <\/span>American & Efird<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>The Sustainability Consortium<\/span><\/a> to work on pressing sustainability concerns in the textile field. Through two separate projects, graduate students in TTM 591 sought solutions to problems in the areas of dyes and chemicals, packaging sustainability, recycling and wastewater. They learned along the way that although these challenges are complex and industry-wide, small groups of enthusiastic minds can make great strides toward change. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
American & Efird<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lilah Halbkat, working toward her <\/span>Master of Science in Textiles<\/span><\/a>, volunteered for the packaging project.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Master of Science in Textile Engineering<\/a> student Julia Kempf learned much during her work on the project.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Sustainability Consortium<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) is a global nonprofit organization comprised of manufacturers, service providers, retailers, suppliers, academics, civil society organizations, governmental agencies and more who are working to develop more sustainable consumer goods. Leonas is co-chair of the organization\u2019s <\/span>Clothing, Footwear and Textiles<\/span><\/a> committee, which identified wastewater management as a key issue at its 2017 summit; the committee designated a task force to work on the problem, called the Wastewater Challenge Project, including members from <\/span>Wrangler<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>HanesBrands<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Fruit of the Loom<\/span><\/a> and others. Six students from TTM 591 assisted the task force on the project. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was thoroughly impressed with the contributions of the project team from <\/span>NC State<\/span><\/a> to our wastewater project,\u201d said Philip Henson, senior manager of energy and environmental sustainability at HanesBrands. \u201cThe Wastewater Challenge project is in its infancy stage and has the potential to reshape the treatment of textile water discharge in areas of the world that are most impacted by poor treatment practices and direct wastewater discharge. The team was given the difficult task of researching the landscape of current treatment practices and synthesizing tons of data for presentation to an audience of industry experts. I was proud of the NC State team for their involvement in the project; they met the challenge and delivered a very professional presentation at The Sustainability Consortium\u2019s 2018 Summit.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Students met with Leonas frequently to share information and set goals. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n