Textile waste is the fastest-growing waste stream in the U.S. and worldwide. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that textile materials generate 17 million tons of annual municipal solid waste. Of which, 11.3 million tons end up in landfill, emitting heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere and leaching toxins into the environment. The vast majority of discarded textiles could be given a second life, but the lack of sorting and recycling infrastructure, along with the absence of critical textile fiber information, have posed severe challenges to mitigating the growing textile waste issue.

Enter Brian Iezzi and Fibarcode. Brian is a Materials Science and Engineering post-doctoral researcher at the University of Michigan. His research focuses on new technologies for enhanced traceability, authentication, and end-of-use management, particularly in the apparel and industrial textile industry. He has recently led research into developing new textile fiber "barcodes" with unique, engineered optical properties that can be directly integrated into textiles and garments, enabling indelible labeling of critical information for apparel re-sale, repair, and recycling.

On this episode of TFC Connections, hosts Nicole Clenney and Costanza Promontorio sit down with Brian to talk circularity, textile waste, and his fiber barcode solution. For more information on Fibarcode and to learn about engagement opportunities, visit https://www.fibarcode.com/