The Bezos Earth Fund, initiated by Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez, announced an allocation of $34 million to invest in developing artificial fabrics, including biodegradable fibers and synthetic silk without using plastics. Grants will be awarded to Columbia University, the University of California at Berkeley, Clemson University, and The Cotton Foundation. The research projects aim to develop materials that can replace traditional cotton and polyester and provide alternatives to natural silk without using silkworms.
Representatives of the foundation noted that these innovations will help reduce microplastic emissions and diminish the environmental impact of the textile industry. According to forecasts, the developed materials could be introduced to the fashion market within the next five years.