During her studies in Chemical Technology at Twente University, Paulien Harmsen specialised in polymer chemicals and materials expertise. Following her graduation in 1998, she took a position at Wageningen Food & Biobased Research. There, she applied her knowledge of chemistry and materials to her research on biomass and biorefinery. In recent years, her focus lies mainly on sustainable textiles, both in her professional and private life. ‘Out of dissatisfaction with the supply in the clothing stores, I make my own clothing. I am working on a fossil-free wardrobe. My knowledge of materials comes in handy. I am doing this to prove that sustainable clothing can also look and feel good.’
Update 2 February Approximately two-thirds of all textiles are produced from fossil resources and are ill-suited for recycling or repurposing due to their poor quality. Hence, Wageningen researchers are working on the development of sustainably produced reusable textiles that are made from natural resources that include fibres from agricultural waste…