Scientists have invented a "textile" made of polyethylene, and they hope that the invention will help make clothing production more accessible.
Polyethylene is one of the most widespread materials in the world, and it is found in plastic bags and food packaging.
The "textile", which American scientists have found, can be used for the production of sportswear, as well as high fashion pieces, and its production pollutes the environment less than the production of natural fibers.
Another advantage is that it can be recycled, the inventors say.
- Five products you didn't know were harming the planet
- How plastic affects human health
- Seven questions and answers about the plastics we use every day
Plastic bags that no one needs anymore can be turned into a material with a large number of uses, with little impact on the environment, says Dr. Svetlana Boriskina, head of the Department of Engineering at MIT.
"There is no excuse for not making plastic bags a new material for the production of wardrobe," Boriskina told BBC News.
"It is literally possible to make value out of someone's trash, and thanks to recycling, it can be repeated several times over."
"Textile" is made of polyethylene fibers, which are dyed before weaving, and can be recycled many times.
An important difference compared to plastic bags is that they retain water, and this material allows the skin to breathe.
Researchers say the new "textile" is less harmful to the environment than wool, cotton, silk, nylon and polyester, and another advantage is that it can be washed in cold water, further reducing the environmental impact.
The material can be used to produce clothing, and scientists hope that in the future it can be used to make durable space suits, providing protection from cosmic radiation.
- Bag or bag
- How bags have become as harmful as plastic bags - or worse
- Greek paradise island rejects plastic
- How a pandemic can save the environment
It remains to be seen whether the use of this material will take off, says Dr. Mark Sumner of the University of Leeds, commenting on the study on the material, published in the scientific journal Natural sustainabilityand (Nature Sustainability).
Sumner adds that the properties of polyethylene, such as softness and relatively low melting temperature, limit the possibilities of its use, and an additional factor is that it has a low absorption power.
"I think the biggest challenge with new materials is to make something that provides comfort, as one of the basic demands of consumers," he says.
"If the material is rigid or waxy, consumers will not choose the product, which will limit the use of this type of material."
The fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters in the world - it is the source of between five and 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions each year.
Large amounts of water are used in the production of textiles, and millions of tons of waste are generated.
Washing and drying clothes often consumes even more energy and water than textile production.
Follow Helen on Twitter.
Follow us on Facebook i Twitter. If you have a topic proposal for us, contact us at bbcnasrpskom@bbc.co.uk
Bonus video:
