Innovation continued barriers

Technological innovations continue to be explored in the field of textile recycling. A key barrier to effective recycling is the proliferation of textiles in different fibre blends that are difficult to separate for recycling, such as cotton and polyester. Researchers have examined how to separate the cotton from the polyester using environmentally sound approaches to dissolve the cotton in order to reclaim the polyester for recycling (De Silva et al., 2014). 

In the high-tech microelectronics area, many opportunities exist for developing new or improved polymers for dielectrics, plasma etch resistance barriers, lithographic resists, insulators/connectors, liquid crystal systems, etc, where, simultaneously, adhesion to various surfaces, water permeability, temperature stability and other properties must not be limiting. Polymers for biomedical, separations, and composites likewise, provide great opportunity for synthetic advances. There is no doubt in our mind, an enormous amount of innovation can continue to flow out of polymer synthesis research. 

Many believe that the regulatory burden placed on the industry by environmental laws stifles innovation, increases costs for research, development, and manufacturing, creates competitive barriers, and makes compliance difficult. However, just as the semiconductor industry will continue to innovate, environmental regulations will continue to be promulgated by a host of federal, state, regional, and local agencies—all with the best intentions in mind. 

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