Today, HP is launching a 3D printed repair parts contest with iFixit, Ikea and Philips to open source easy fixes for common consumer products. The ultimate goal is to keep more things in the use and reuse phase much, much longer.
Recently, the Walmart Foundation, through the Walmart U.S. Manufacturing Innovation Fund, supported a project at Texas Tech University where researchers are using a foam indigo dyeing technique on cotton fibers. According to Texas Tech, this method, which uses a frothy foam dye designed to penetrate the entire fiber, eliminates the use of harsh chemicals and reduces water and energy usage by nearly 90%. This innovation could be a game changer for denim manufacturers by lowering costs and reducing environmental impacts.
