A research team at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia has crafted a unique new approach to civil engineering by using textile waste and carpet fibers to create sustainable concrete. 

Their approach not only diverts clothing and carpet waste from landfills — which is urgently needed when it’s estimated that the world produces 92 million tons of textile waste every year — it also makes for stronger concrete. 

In their study, published in the Construction and Building Materials journal, lead author and engineer Chamila Gunasekara explained that concrete made of reclaimed clothing scraps and textile waste reduced early-age shrinkage cracking in concrete by up to 30% — which also improves the strength of the concrete overall. 

“Cracking in early-age concrete slabs is a long-standing challenge in construction projects that can cause premature corrosion, not only making a building look bad but also risking its structural integrity and safety,” Gunasekara explained in a press release for RMIT University. 

Scrap carpet fibers, on the other hand, can be used to “increase concrete’s strength by 40% in tension” and “prevent early cracking."

For years, Gunasekara and his team have been hard at work in the laboratory to take their idea from drawing board to reality. 

Recently, their concrete samples were put to the test, and they all measured up to Australian standards for engineering performance and environmental requirements.

In testing their processing technique against an array of materials, they even discovered that they could repurpose old firefighting uniforms, which are notoriously difficult to recycle. 

“Up to 70% of textile waste would be suitable for conversion into usable fibers, presenting an opportunity in the materials supply chain,” said Shadi Houshyar, a textile and material scientist at RMIT’s school of engineering. 

Soon, the “carpet” concrete will enter the next phase of development, where it will get tested in the field. There, Gunasekara and his team will see if his invention will stand the test of real-world living. 

Throughout the engineering process, Gunasekara has stayed motivated by the desire to address environmental waste, which has ballooned in recent decades due to improper disposal practices and the increased production of fast fashion. 

The problem hits close to home. Australia, he pointed out, is the second largest consumer of textiles per person in the world, after the U.S.

“[Our] study demonstrates the potential of carpet fiber-reinforced concrete as a sustainable solution,” he wrote, “offering enhanced mechanical properties, shrinkage mitigation, and effective utilization of carpet waste, addressing critical issues in construction and waste management sectors.”

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Header image via The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and The Bees / Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0)