Australia’s fast fashion crisis is generating unprecedented textile waste. But, one RMIT student is tackling the issue head-on with a creative and eco-friendly solution. Sze Tjin Yek, an industrial design student at RMIT, has won the 2024 Australian National James Dyson Award for her innovative creation, Sorbet Acoustic Panels, made from upcycled household textile waste.
Australia’s Textile Problem
Australians buy more clothing per person than any other country, with an average of 56 new garments purchased every year. This fast fashion trend has resulted in a staggering waste crisis. Consumers discard six tonnes of textiles and clothing every ten minutes, with 95% of these items being potentially recyclable. Yet, most end up in landfill, contributing to environmental degradation. Household textile waste is one of the least recovered materials in Australia, second only to plastics.
The sweet sorbet solution
Inspired by the pressing issue of textile waste, Sze Tjin Yek created Sorbet, a range of acoustic panels made almost entirely from discarded textiles. These panels serve a functional purpose—managing noise pollution in homes and commercial spaces – while also addressing the environmental impact of waste. Unlike traditional acoustic panels, which are typically made from open-cell polyurethane foam and are challenging to recycle, Sorbet panels offer a sustainable alternative.
In addition to their eco-friendly credentials, Sorbet panels outperform conventional options in terms of acoustic performance. Testing revealed that Sorbet panels absorbed sound 23.9% better than acoustic foam and 10.5% better than traditional EchoPanels. The panels are also highly resilient, withstanding humidity and regaining their toughness after exposure to water due to the starch-based glue used in production.
Sustainability and style
Sze’s artistic flair shone through during the creation process, where she noticed that the press-moulded panels resembled scoops of ice cream. This observation led to the name Sorbet and inspired colour-coded panels based on popular ice cream flavours like “Hundreds and Thousands,” “Blueberry Lemonade,” and “Red Velvet.” By turning waste into a beautiful and functional product, Sorbet challenges the perception of discarded textiles and encourages consumers to rethink their relationship with waste.
Winning the Australian national James Dyson Award has earned Sze $9,700, which she plans to invest in further developing Sorbet. Her vision extends beyond creating a sustainable product; she hopes to inspire households and communities to take action by reusing their own textile waste. Sze is already exploring collaboration opportunities with charitable organisations to set up a collection system for discarded fabrics, with plans to streamline production and make Sorbet commercially viable.
Honourable mention
While Sze’s innovation, creativity, and commitment to sustainability highlight the power of design in solving some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges, additional acknowledgement must be extended to Australian runner-up Taharah – who created the Koros Alert System. This innovative real-time siren is the first of its kind in the Pacific Islands, designed to improve disaster preparedness in remote communities like those in Fiji. Inspired by her Fijian heritage, Taharah’s invention aims to strengthen community resilience and save lives.
