Valorisation of viticulture waste for textile innovation

Abstract
With the dynamic growth of the United Kingdom's viticulture industry driven by climate change, this proposal seeks to harness this emerging national waste resource for production of circular textiles. The expansion of the UK’s wine industry has led to a surge in viticulture waste.  This research will repurpose viticulture waste into high-quality textiles introduces an inventive and industry-relevant solution that aligns with the evolving sustainability needs of consumer products. Two approaches will be tested: A) sheet-casting into leather-like materials (formed), B) Growth of Bacteria Nanocellulose sheets. Post-processing will be explored and validated with LCA in comparison to bovine leather options.

How to Apply 
Please contact Dr Elena Dieckmann if you are interested in applying for this project. 

For more information on submitting a PhD application, please consult our application pages here. When you submit your application, please cite this project title in the 'how you are planning to fund your PhD' section.