Cycle
︎ Creator: Kyan Zabriskie
︎ Supervisor: Peter Yeadon
Cycle is a biodegradable laundry pouch designed to capture and break down microplastics, offering a user-friendly and zero-waste solution that integrates seamlessly into environmental systems.
Microplastics, often too small to detect or recycle, are everywhere — in soil, waterways, and even within human bodies. 35% of microplastics in our environment come from washing clothes, and approximately 700,000 plastic fibers are released per wash. Cycle tackles this issue at the root, reimagining the laundry cycle to harmonize with the life cycle.
Inspired by the hagfish, a marine species that secretes tough, elastic threads of protein fibers and mucin when threatened, Cycle uses lab-synthesized hagfish fibers to create a lightweight, durable, and biodegradable textile. These fibers are strong, yet 100 times thinner than human hair, making them an ideal base for capturing microplastics. Combined with plastic-degrading enzymes like PETase, MPETase, and Nylonase, the textile traps and breaks down microplastics, offering a complete zero-waste and renewable solution.
Cycle is simple to use — just toss it into the wash basin like other laundry products — but without harmful chemicals. Its short lifespan is intentional, allowing it to biodegrade fully in a backyard compost setting, reinforcing its circular design.
While challenges like affordability, scalability, enzyme stability, and durability in harsh washing conditions remain, future iterations will refine these aspects while expanding its scope to tackle a wider range of plastics. Cycle’s innovative materials and design, aim to redefine sustainability by transforming everyday habits into regenerative solutions.
︎ Supervisor: Peter Yeadon
Cycle is a biodegradable laundry pouch designed to capture and break down microplastics, offering a user-friendly and zero-waste solution that integrates seamlessly into environmental systems.
Microplastics, often too small to detect or recycle, are everywhere — in soil, waterways, and even within human bodies. 35% of microplastics in our environment come from washing clothes, and approximately 700,000 plastic fibers are released per wash. Cycle tackles this issue at the root, reimagining the laundry cycle to harmonize with the life cycle.
Inspired by the hagfish, a marine species that secretes tough, elastic threads of protein fibers and mucin when threatened, Cycle uses lab-synthesized hagfish fibers to create a lightweight, durable, and biodegradable textile. These fibers are strong, yet 100 times thinner than human hair, making them an ideal base for capturing microplastics. Combined with plastic-degrading enzymes like PETase, MPETase, and Nylonase, the textile traps and breaks down microplastics, offering a complete zero-waste and renewable solution.
Cycle is simple to use — just toss it into the wash basin like other laundry products — but without harmful chemicals. Its short lifespan is intentional, allowing it to biodegrade fully in a backyard compost setting, reinforcing its circular design.
While challenges like affordability, scalability, enzyme stability, and durability in harsh washing conditions remain, future iterations will refine these aspects while expanding its scope to tackle a wider range of plastics. Cycle’s innovative materials and design, aim to redefine sustainability by transforming everyday habits into regenerative solutions.
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Rhode Island School of Design | 20 Washington Street | Providence, RI 02903