Did you know that less than 15% of the 92 million tons of clothing and other textiles discarded annually are recycled? Woven-in labels made with inexpensive photonic fibers, developed by a University of Michigan-led team, can make clothing recycling more efficient and accessible. According to Max Shtein, U-M professor of materials science and engineering and corresponding author of the study, photonic labeling can also tell consumers where and how goods are made and even verify the authenticity of brand-name products, adding significant value for customers.
