1126 days ago

A fruitful idea: Orange Fibre

Robert Anderson from Curtain Clean (The Curtain Store)

In Italy, the citrus industry discards one million tonnes of citrus fruit peels annually. While the peels are of course biodegradable, it still costs a lot of money to dispose of them properly. The start-up Orange Fibre, run by Adriana Santanocito and Enrica Arena, has developed a new kind of fabric, which is entirely made of waste citrus fruit peels.


The idea came to Santanocito while working on her thesis in fashion design. Since Sicily, where she is from, is responsible for a major amount of peels, she tried to think of a way to reduce the amount of waste. And thus the idea to make fabric from the discarded peels was born.


The peels are processed with a patented method to extract the cellulose that is spun to form the final yarn. The fabric looks and feels like silk: soft to the touch and a shiny appearance. The biodegradable yarn can be spun with any type of existing yarn.


Aside from looking pretty and feeling nice, the orange yarn has an additional benefit: thanks to nanotechnology, the material still contains essential oils and vitamin C that are present in the citrus fruit peel. The skin absorbs these oils and is nourished by them, making the fabric a wearable body cream. According to Orange Fibre, despite the oils, the fabric does not feel greasy.


Keep reading: www.curtainclean.co.nz...

More messages from your neighbours
6 days ago

Poll: Have you ever been bullied?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

People associate bullying with children in schools, but it can actually stretch beyond childhood to workplaces or neighbourhoods.

This Friday is Pink Shirt Day, which began in Canada in 2007 when two students took a stand against homophobic bullying after a new student was harassed for wearing pink. People across the globe are now encouraged to wear pink on this day to take a stand against bullying and promote inclusivity.

Have you or your whānau ever experienced bullying? Share your thoughts on Pink Shirt Day below.

Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.

Image
Have you ever been bullied?
  • 79.8% Yes
    79.8% Complete
  • 19.9% No
    19.9% Complete
  • 0.4% Other - I'll share below
    0.4% Complete
1671 votes
1 day ago

What is your favourite bedtime snack?

Beds4U Tauranga

What's your ultimate bedtime indulgence? Complete the sentence: 'The best bedtime snack is______.' Comment below and let's share our favourite treats for a dreamy night's sleep!

Image
1 day ago

Social climber

The Team from Resene ColorShop Tauranga

Building framed bunk beds and finishing with curtains, Resene Indian Ink and Resene Colorwood Bark elevates the bach classic. Kids also love them at home. Find out how to create your own with these easy step by step instructions.

Image