Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Plastics News
Subscribe
  • Login
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • News
    • Recycling
    • Sustainability
    • Bioplastics
    • Technology & Materials
    • Injection Moulding
    • Blow Moulding
    • Extrusion
    • Thermoforming
    • 3D printing
    • Technology
    • Materials
    • Machinery
  • Opinion
    • View Point
  • Events
    • Our Exhibitions
    • Plastics Industry Awards (PIA)
    • Ask the Expert
    • Reifenhäuser Technologies Livestreams
    • Plastics News Europe Live Archives
    • Sustainable Plastics Live
    • Reuters Responsible Business Europe 2022
    • Plastics Recycling Show Europe
  • Prices & Resources
    • Polymer Prices
    • Data Reports
    • Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
  • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Media Pack
  • Subscribe
  • Digital magazine
    • Digital Magazine
  • Multimedia
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
August 09, 2016 07:00 AM

Post-consumer waste creates graduation gowns

Kate Tilley, Plastics News
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    University of Queensland
    The University of Queensland (UQ), in Brisbane, staged 10 graduation ceremonies in July in which the 3,000 grads wore recycled plastic gowns.

    This year almost 30,000 Australian university students will graduate in gowns made from recycled plastic bottles.

    Six Australian universities are using the gowns since they became available last December.

    Hank Thierry, general manager graduations for Reed Graduation Services Pty, based in the Melbourne suburb of Keysborough, said the gowns are made in China from post-consumer waste, mainly PET bottles.

    Thierry said each gown contains the equivalent of 28 recycled bottles. Thierry said the technology was developed in the United States and he travelled there to establish a supply chain and then arranged for the gowns to be manufactured in China.

    Reed established its own brand, Envirograd, under which it markets the gowns to universities and other higher-education campuses.

    Thierry said Envirograd gowns were more expensive, but “a sustainable option” for universities.

    “The regalia market is very competitive. Price-wise there are a lot of cheaper gowns flooding the market, but some are of dubious origins.”

    Thierry said he went to China to ensure the factory manufacturing Envirograd gowns did not use child labor and met other “ethical standards.”

    The University of Queensland (UQ), in Brisbane, staged 10 graduation ceremonies in July in which the 3,000 grads wore recycled plastic gowns.

    UQ student progression manager Athol Reid said Envirograd gowns were selected in a tender process. “There is no drop in quality compared with other synthetic gowns,” he said. “These gowns offer an excellent fit, are lighter in weight and probably better for a hot Queensland summer than any other good polyester.”

    Newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Sustainable Plastics' news delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Sustainable Plastics Media Kit Cover

    Subscriptions to Sustainable Plastics, the leading Pan-European magazine for the circular plastics industry.

    Subscribe now
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter

    "In a changing world, Sustainable Plastics is a constant: a platform the plastics industry can rely on to deliver the news and knowhow impacting the industry going forward”

    Contact Us

    11 Ironmonger Lane, EC2V 8EY
    United Kingdom 
     

    Customer Service:
    1-313-446-0450

    [email protected]

     

    Resources
    • Advertise
    • Sitemap
    • Careers
    • Subscribe
    Affiliates
    • Plastics News
    • LSR World
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Tire Business
    • Rubber News
    • Automotive News
    • Automotive News Europe
    • Crain Publications
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Copyright © 1996-2022. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Recycling
      • Sustainability
      • Bioplastics
      • Technology & Materials
        • Injection Moulding
        • Blow Moulding
        • Extrusion
        • Thermoforming
        • 3D printing
        • Technology
        • Materials
        • Machinery
    • Opinion
      • View Point
    • Events
      • Our Exhibitions
        • Plastics Recycling Show Europe
      • Plastics Industry Awards (PIA)
      • Ask the Expert
      • Reifenhäuser Technologies Livestreams
      • Plastics News Europe Live Archives
      • Sustainable Plastics Live
      • Reuters Responsible Business Europe 2022
    • Prices & Resources
      • Polymer Prices
      • Data Reports
      • Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
    • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Media Pack
    • Subscribe
    • Digital magazine
      • Digital Magazine
    • Multimedia