T456 Sec 701 Textile Project Development Final Presentation

The Wonder Sponge

A sponge that does it all!

Ashley Weil and Collette Ward

Why sponges?

1.

Practical Applications of Nonwovens in Household Options a.

Sponges are used every day by many people, and rapidly purchased then disposed

b.

They have not changed drastically in structure and material over the years

c.

They are in need of new improvement

A Brief History of Sponges ●

The sponges we use today are replicas of the natural ones humans have harvested for centuries.

●

The first known modern sponge was created by Du Pont in 1952, which was produced by General Mills.

Common Issues with the Household Dish Sponge

1.

Longevity

2.

Foodborne Pathogens

3.

Microplastics

4.

Environmental Impacts

Generic Dish Sponge Structure and Materials: ●

Tends to be either cellulose or polyurethane.

●

Cellulose is bacteria-ridden, polyurethane is detrimental for the environment

Our Proposed Structure + Materials ●

Multilayered

●

1st layer: wood-based scrubby layer, for scouring

●

2nd layer: airlaid fabric, cellulose fiber, for absorbency

●

3rd layer: thin layer of spunbond cellulose fabric, coated with antibacterial copper

Market Competition Competitor A

Competitor B

Market Competition (Cont.)

Competitor C

Competitor D

Market Competition (Cont.)

Competitor E

Ours

Production Methods Recycled post consumer waste- clothing Copper layer

Sustainability

Conclusion

References