A research team led by the University of Southampton and UWE Bristol has demonstrated that wearable electronic textiles (e-textiles) can be both sustainable and biodegradable. Their study introduces a new approach for fully inkjet-printed, eco-friendly e-textiles, branded as Smart, Wearable, and Eco-friendly Electronic Textiles (SWEET).
Professor Nazmul Karim, from the University of Southampton’s Winchester School of Art, explained the challenge: “Integrating electrical components into conventional textiles complicates the recycling of the material because it often contains metals, such as silver, that don’t easily biodegrade. Our potential eco-friendly approach for selecting sustainable materials and manufacturing overcomes this, enabling the fabric to decompose when it is disposed of.”
The SWEET design consists of three layers: a sensing layer, an interface layer, and a biodegradable base fabric made from Tencel, a renewable, wood-derived textile. The active electronics incorporate graphene and PEDOT: PSS, conductive materials applied with precision through inkjet printing.
The researchers tested the material’s effectiveness for physiological monitoring with five volunteers. Fabric swatches, integrated into gloves and connected to monitoring equipment, reliably measured heart rate and temperature to industry-standard accuracy.
Dr Shaila Afroj, an associate professor of sustainable materials at the University of Exeter and co-author of the study, remarked: “Achieving reliable, industry-standard monitoring with eco-friendly materials is a significant milestone. It demonstrates that sustainability doesn’t have to come at the cost of functionality, especially in critical applications like healthcare.”
To evaluate biodegradability, the team buried the e-textiles in soil. After four months, the fabric lost 48% of its weight and 98% of its strength, confirming its capacity for rapid decomposition. A life cycle assessment further revealed that graphene-based electrodes have up to 40 times less environmental impact than conventional electrodes.
Marzia Dulal, a Commonwealth PhD scholar at UWE Bristol and the study’s lead author, highlighted: “Our life cycle analysis shows that graphene-based e-textiles have a fraction of the environmental footprint compared to traditional electronics. This makes them a more responsible choice for industries looking to reduce their ecological impact.”
The inkjet printing method enhances sustainability by precisely depositing functional materials, minimising waste and reducing water and energy consumption compared to conventional screen printing.
Professor Karim concluded: “Amid rising pollution from landfill sites, our study helps to address a lack of research in the area of biodegradation of e-textiles. These materials will become increasingly more important in our lives, particularly in the area of healthcare, so it’s really important we consider how to make them more eco-friendly, both in their manufacturing and disposal.”
The researchers now plan to develop wearable garments using SWEET, focusing on healthcare applications such as early detection and prevention of heart-related diseases.
