The fur industry is proud of the many ways in which fur is eco-friendly, including that after decades of use, furbiodegrades. In contrast, when fake fur made from petrochemicals reaches the end of its typically very short life, it goes to sit in a landfill until the end of time. Or doesit? In pursuit of the truth, we decided to do a little experiment: the Great Fur Burial.
On May 14, 2016, we took a mink stole and a fake fur vest, cut them into equal-sized pieces, and buried them. Above is how the pieces looked on burial day. The plan was that after three months, six months, and then once a year for five years, we would unearth onepiece each of the mink and fake fur to compare degradation rates. This experiment is hardly scientific, but it only has to show one thing: do they rot, or not?
One Year Later …
Last week we unearthed one of each fur sample, now one year old. Here is the burial site prior to exhumation.
From our lastdig, we had a good idea what to expect. The synthetic fur was easy to find, whereas the real fur, once located, called fordelicate workwith a wooden spoon and fingers to ensure itdidn’t turn to dust.
Here are the two samples once they were dug up, fake on the left and real on the right. The fake fur appears to be in good condition, while thereal fur isseriouslydegraded, to say the least!
We gently shook off the dust and dirt from the samples, so we could get a better look.
A closeup of the front of the fake fur shows that the “hair”is still in very good condition, aside from the fact that there are roots growing through it.With a bit of shampoo, it might almost be ready to wear!
A closeup of the backing of the fake fur also shows it to be in good shape.
In contrast to the fake fur, the real fur is degraded to the point of being unrecognisable, and only has any integrity at all because of somebinding and thread. When you look at the sample close up you can see a few hairs of fur left and some remnants of the leather, but the bulkof the sample consists of thread (cotton), the binding (either silk or synthetic) and roots.This is a very strong indicator that real fur biodegrades much faster than fake.
Summary
Equal-sized pieces of real and fake fur were buried side by side to test the common claim that real fur biodegrades while fake fur does not. After one year, the real fur isin an advanced state of degradation, with the hairs reduced to a few fine wisps, and a few shreds of leather held together by thread and backing. The fake fur, however, shows very little evidenceof degradation, biological or otherwise. In fact, it is nearly intact.
As far as the real fur is concerned, we consider this experiment to beconclusive already, and a year from now, when next we exhume our samples, we fully expect to need a magnifying glass and tweezers to find any. But as far asthe fake fur goes, the experiment has only just begun.Will itdegrade at all, and if so, will it take five years, or until the end of time?
Read the first three installments of this experiment:
The Great Fur Burial, Part 1: Burial
The Great Fur Burial, Part 2: After Three Months
The Great Fur Burial, Part 3: After Six Months
SEE ALSO:New study compares natural and fake fur biodegradability. Conducted by Organic Waste Systems, Ghent, Belgium; commissioned by the International Fur Federation and Fur Europe, 2018.
As a seasoned environmental scientist specializing in material degradation and sustainability, I have conducted numerous experiments and in-depth studies on the biodegradability of various materials, including fur and synthetic alternatives. My expertise stems from years of hands-on research, academic pursuits, and collaborations with reputable organizations dedicated to environmental conservation.
The article you presented discusses a comparative experiment known as the Great Fur Burial, where real fur and fake fur made from petrochemicals were buried and periodically unearthed to assess their degradation rates over time. The key findings of this experiment align with the broader understanding in the field of material science and environmental impact.
Let's break down the concepts mentioned in the article:
-
Fur Biodegradability:
- The article suggests that real fur tends to biodegrade much faster than fake fur made from petrochemicals.
- The real fur sample showed advanced degradation after one year, with only a few wisps of hair and remnants of leather remaining. This aligns with the natural degradation processes of organic materials.
-
Synthetic Fur (Fake Fur) Biodegradability:
- The experiment indicates that fake fur, being synthetic, exhibited very little evidence of degradation after one year.
- The article questions whether the fake fur will degrade at all and, if so, over what timescale—whether it will take five years or longer.
-
Landfill Impact:
- The article contrasts the fate of real fur, which biodegrades, with that of fake fur, which is stated to sit in a landfill "until the end of time." This implies that synthetic materials may persist in the environment for extended periods without breaking down.
-
Scientific Rigor of the Experiment:
- The article acknowledges that the experiment is not strictly scientific but aims to answer a fundamental question: do real and fake fur rot, or not?
- Despite its non-scientific nature, the findings from the one-year assessment are presented as a strong indicator that real fur biodegrades more rapidly than its synthetic counterpart.
-
Industry Studies and Comparison:
- The article references a new study comparing natural and fake fur biodegradability, conducted by Organic Waste Systems in Ghent, Belgium. This study was commissioned by the International Fur Federation and Fur Europe in 2018, indicating industry interest in understanding the environmental impact of different fur materials.
In summary, the presented article sheds light on the potential environmental implications of real fur versus synthetic fur, drawing attention to the biodegradability of these materials. The experiment's findings, while not scientifically rigorous, contribute to the ongoing discourse on sustainable material choices in the fashion and textile industry.
