Supporting the iGEM Team from TU Dresden

ReFiBa- iGEM Team TU Dresden 2024

Hello there! We - the TU Dresden iGEM of 2024- need your support! Become part of saving the planet by supporting our project.

About our goal and who we are.

We are a group of highly motivated students in the Life Science area from TU Dresden. The iGEM (international genetically engineered maschine) competition gives us the frame to develop an interdisziplinary approach/method to recycle textile fibers by breaking them down and reusing the products. To achieve this, we aim to fixate enzymes for breaking down textile fibers by using spores of bacteria (Bacillus subtilis).

What is the aim of iGEM?

The iGEM competition provides us students with a extensive experience on how to establish and implement our own research project beyond the possibilities of our studies. By the application of synthetic biology, innovative approaches for solving urgent challenges of human kind are aimed for. Next to our research, we are responsible for the acquise of research funds, the observance of biologicaly safety and the presentation of the results on the international conference the Grant Jamboree in Paris.

Why is our project essential?

Over 92 million tons of textile waste are produced every year. Only around 10% of this is recycled. (Kerr and Landry 2021; Ecap 2019) The amount of textile waste is an exponentially growing problem. In addition, although fabrics made from cellulose fibers are biodegradable, they alone do not cover the current demand for fabrics. As a result, they are often processed into mixed textiles with plastic fibers, which makes them difficult to recycle. New, sustainable and innovative ways of recycling textile waste are therefore essential for modernizing the textile industry.

This is where our project comes in: ReFiBa aims to create a green approach to textile recycling. Cellulose fibers and polyester (PET, polyethylene, glycol) are to be degraded enzymatically using cellulases and PETases. The enzymes are to be immobilized on spores of Bacillus subtilis in order to optimize their activity. The monomers produced during degradation, such as glucose, EG (ethylene glycol) and TPA (terephthalic acid), can not only be easily extracted from the solution afterwards, but the mix of EG and glucose also offers the possibility of further use in the production of chemicals. ReFiBa thus aims to enable a circular economy in which not only pure polyester fabrics but also mixed textiles can be easily and sustainably decomposed into reusable chemicals.

How does your donation support us?

As the only East German team, we are happy about any support. All funds flow directly into the project. We students work on the project on a voluntary basis. Donations help us in particular for events with an educational character, both for the further development of the project and team members. We are also concerned with raising awareness of sustainability and motivating people to recycle, upcycle and minimize textile waste. This complex project requires resources for the experiments in the laboratory, which form the basis of the project.

The highlight of the competition is the final presentation of the results of the project in Paris. Over the four days of the conference, we will have the opportunity to present our project to other participants and finally to the judges. This event is additionally valuable for exchanging ideas and making contacts on site with the other teams, especially in order to find collaboration partners for the expansion as a start-up. With your donation, you are also supporting us in our overarching goal of finding a marketable solution for large-scale industry. Become part of our project, because every contribution counts!

Why do we care for our projects?

"Our project could have a strong impact in my country, since clothes waste is a big topic and most of the pictures regarding the clothe landfills in the middle of the desert, were taken in my country." - Gabriel

"This competitions units two goals I was always aiming for during my studis. Firstly, I always wanted to create a project by my own or together with a group of friends from scratch. Secoundly this project should ideally have a benefit for the greater good. IGEM and ReFiBa we formed an awesome and diverse team which tackles the problem of mass pollution by textile waste. Being one of the first trying to create a environmental friendly recycling approach is fascinating and exciting." -Aaron

"I enjoy dressing up; however, I care way more about our planet and to maintain it as green as possible. Within our project I can help to ease the consequences of the fashion industries´ waste, not only by getting vintage clothes, but scientifically engaging and developing a method for a sustainable textile fiber degradation. Our goal is also to create awareness for the current combustion and waste mountain problems, emphasizing the urge for a solution. My dream for our project is to evolve into a large-scale application kit."- Fine

Why do we want to go to Paris?

"By going to the Grand Jamboree, I hope to represent my team and university on such worldwide platform. I also have a fantastic opportunity to network with colleagues and global industry leader, which may lead to future collaborations and professional advancement. Furthermore, this experience is expected to be enriching on both a professional and personal level, enhancing our team chemistry and providing new inspiration for all of us." -Lukas

"The Grand Jamboree in Paris is one of the key aspects and moments of this competition. Going there helps us to realize what we achieved in this semester and how important things like this competition are for education and also future science. We can talk to other teams, educate each other about different problems in this world and also about the science behind each project. It is important to go there to feel connected with the whole project by being a representative of it." -Paula