Debasish Das and Subhas Ghosh Win 2019 Award

Debasish Das and Subhas Ghosh Win 2019 Award Dr. Debasish Das, Professor, University of Calcutta, Department of Jute and Fibre Technology, and Dr. Subhas Ghosh, Professor, Eastern Michigan University, School of Visual Built Environments, College of Engineering and Technology, have won the 2019 Discover Natural Fibres Initiative Innovation Award.

DNFI-Award-2019The two researchers collaborated on the development of a biodegradable cotton-jute fabric with a waterproof coating that can substitute for non-biodegradable PVC-coated polyester. The new cotton-jute fabric is suitable for use in outdoor fabrics such as tarps, awnings, canopies, or automobile hooding material. In addition to being biodegradable, the natural fibre material meets fire-retardancy standards and allows the transfer of moisture vapor to avoid the accumulation of humidity on the underside of fabrics, while remaining waterproof.

“Multifunctional hooding for automobiles and/or outdoor screening material based on coated cotton-jute fabric”

Crucially, the natural fibre textile product developed by Das and Ghosh contains no carcinogenic plasticizer, no toxic formaldehyde-based adhesion promoter, and no non-biodegradable fabric components.

This cost-effective natural fibre product was developed within the Department of Jute and Fibre Technology, University of Calcutta, with support from the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. The product will be produced on a commercial scale by MS. Ajanta Textiles, India.

Biodegradable Weather-Resistant Cotton-Jute Fabric can replace non-biodegradable PVC-Coated Polyester

The 2019 DNFI Award Ceremony will commence on 8 January 2020 from 10:00 AM, during the international Heimtextil fair in Frankfurt/Germany. The winner will present there work and receive the award.


Download press release: Debasish Das and Subhas Ghosh Win 2019 Award

Download winning submission: DNFI-Award-2019-Das-Ghosh-Application-e