10119718PAPER PROOF - a catalyst for circular solutions and enhancing hygeine in period swimwearClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKMore than 100-billion garments are produced worldwide each year - current end-of-life disposal practices indicate that 85% of these garments will end up in landfill or incinerated, with less than 1% of waste textiles being recycled into new clothing. More than half of the world's clothing demand is for soft, stretchy, synthetic fabrics, ranging from undergarments through to sports and activewear. They are made from a synthetic fiber called elastane. It is neither recyclable nor biodegradable. This is particularly problematic for swimwear, where unlike ready-to-wear clothing, there is no secondary market due to hygiene concerns. This project provides Sunshine Diaries Ltd (trading as PAPER London) with the opportunity to develop an exciting new range of period swimwear - PAPER Proof - made entirely from recycled swimwear. The technology, developed by Nottingham Trent University, enables textiles containing elastane to be recycled and turned into new products, whilst integrating a game changing antimicrobial nanotechnology that addresses hygiene concerns in swimwear. The funding will be used to develop a strategy to rapidly commercialise PAPER Proof in both UK and North American markets, helping to positively address the stigma associated with menstruation and swimming for teenagers and young adults.