PTRI Promotes Sustainable Development in 2019 NSTW
by: Sharmainne Rhey B. Caoili Technology Transfer and Promotion Staff, DOST-PTRI
This year’s National Science and Technology Week (NSTW)—a much-anticipated annual event focused on the exhibition of up-to-date innovations in science and technology in the Philippines— is happening from July 17 to 21, 2019 at the World Trade Center. The five-day activity will be centered to the theme: "Science for the People: Enabling Technologies for Sustainable Development”. This will become the perfect venue for the Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST - PTRI) to bring forward its latest sustainable and purposeful textile-related technologies, services, and initiatives towards attaining sustainable development.This 2019 NSTW will be the platform to promote innovations aligned to the United Nations 17 Sustainable Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. These 17 SDGs are devoted to helping combat the immense challenges experienced worldwide through global partnerships and commitments of allied countries such as Philippines. DOST will feature technologies, products and services that respond to pressing societal issues. These innovations are organized in appropriate clusters to demonstrate how various stakeholders will benefit from these innovations.
DOST-PTRI—a government research and development institution for textiles and allied industries—will be joining the DOST and all its attached agencies in raising awareness and providing the latest knowledge products and services in two (2) separate clusters: Biodiversity and Sustainable Use of the Biological Resources, and in Sustainable Cities and Communities.
One of the missions of DOST- PTRI is to develop textiles harnessing natural materials through its judicious utilization. With the urgent call to promote sustainable production and consumption, DOST-PTRI developed textile fiber pre-treatment and yarn production technologies and products using agricultural waste from banana and sugarcane industries. Given that the country is abound with the said crops, it is common to burn the generated residue which, in effect, aggravate environmental conditions. These agricultural wastes are viable sources of fibers which can be used as alternative materials for production of non-woven, woven and knitted materials for use in home textiles, apparels, industrial fabrics and even medical applications.
This is also the case for the new textile fiber source that is BANDALA — an abaca variety through the cross-breeding of wild banana - pacol and abaca. This has been found to have technological benefits more suitable for the production of yarns and textiles compared to the traditional abaca fiber. It is also a breakthrough in research as it is resistant to the alarming bunchy-top virus which infested abaca plantations all over the country for decades, and resulted to farmer’s struggle to fully reap the economic benefits from the production of abaca.
Natural dyes with its value addition to natural textile products will also be featured.
As the research and development arm of DOST in textiles and allied industries, the DOST-PTRI promotes the circular economy approach by means of the “Cradle to Cradle” design concept of the book of the same title co-authored by Dr. Michael Braungart.
Further, the PTRI ‘Perfect Fit’ Textile Product Development Center’s 3D Body Scanner and Visualization System will be among the technologies to be featured in the Sustainable Cities and Communities Cluster. The project aims to develop and integrated textile product development process from designing to prototyping to promote and support the innovations of Filipino designers, garment manufacturers and allied industries. It will enable sustainable production of textile and is anchored SDG 12. In the long term, the project aims to create a National Sizing System for the Filipino through data gathering of body measurements. At the NSTW, the public will experience the 3D body scanning technology and visualization of a chosen outfit.
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For more information, contact the DOST-PTRI Technology Transfer, Information and Promotion Staff at tel. nos. (02) 837-2071 loc 2361 / 837-1338 / 817-7920 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
