A professor at De Montfort University (DMU) Leicester is spearheading pioneering research that could shape the future of sustainable textiles. Professor Jinsong Shen, Professor of Textile Chemistry and Biotechnology, has secured fresh funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to tackle harmful “forever chemicals” and improve textile recycling.

Professor Shen will collaborate with a team led by Professor Manish Tiwari at University College London (UCL), alongside researchers from Leeds University. Together, they aim to develop new technologies that make fabrics resistant to soil and liquid without using PFAS, chemicals known for their durability but now being phased out due to severe environmental and health risks.

Professor Shen’s work focuses on creating sustainable PFAS-free amphiphobic coatings that are both effective and scalable for industries ranging from clothing and healthcare to construction, automotive, and defense textiles.

Professor Shen said, “In recent years, DMU’s Textile Engineering and Materials (TEAM) research group has worked hard to create technologies that improve textile sustainability. I am delighted these projects have been awarded. We continue to support the textile industry’s transition to a circular economy, particularly by removing harmful substances from supply chains.”