Lars is a trained textile engineer who received an MSc from Hochschule Niederrhein and a double bachelor's degree from Hochschule Niederrhein and Tianjin Polytechnic University. Before starting his PhD, he gained industrial research experience in the field of textile auxiliaries. Lars joined the Environmental Ergonomics Research Centre at Loughborough School of Design and Creative Arts in April 2020, where he is conducting a PhD in collaboration with Adidas. His research focuses on sportswear, testing methods, quality perception, and sustainability.
Thesis title: Sustainability without compromises: Perceived and material quality measurement of recycled polyester sports garments during the product life cycle.
The sports clothing industry is a producer of environmental pollution and is transforming towards more sustainable production. One approach towards more sustainability is the application of recycled polyester fibres. However, the properties of polyester tend to decrease in the recycling process, and the perception of recycled polyester has not yet been fully researched, which can negatively influence the clothing lifespan. A long clothing lifespan, though, is one of the most efficient ways to reduce environmental impacts. Therefore, this PhD project aims to find appropriate methods to measure the long-term perceived and material quality of clothing and evaluate sports garments from different polyester fibres during the product life cycle.
Supervisors: Professor George Havenith and Dr Alex Lloyd.