Related Keywords: Australian science agency, biodegradable, cotton cell walls, cotton fibres, cotton plants, CSIRO, natural fibres, non-creasing and waterproof, nylon, polyester, stretch, synthetic biology, synthetic materials, synthetics, woolly fibres
According to CSIRO, in 1995 synthetics made up around half of the global fibre market. By 2015, this had risen to 77%. The researchers have first worked on better understanding what determines the length, strength and thickness of cotton fibres. They are doing this by growing a range of different cotton plants, some with long, thin fibres and others with short, woolly fibres.