Going green for graduation: UNT students wore biodegradable gowns

From a UNT News Service press release

While the students walking across the stage at the December 2009 graduation looked similar to students from previous years, there was one notable difference: some of the students wore biodegradable gowns.

Offered through the UNT Bookstore, the Jostens Elements Collection graduation gowns will decompose in soil in one year. The acetate fabric fiber of the gowns is made from natural wood sourced from renewable forests. In addition, the zipper is made from fully recycled polyethylene terephthalate, a plastic typically used for consumer goods such as soft drink bottles. The packaging for the gowns contains materials from ECM BioFilms, making it easier for the bag to decompose.

About 2,250 undergraduate students graduated in December, in addition to nearly 500 master's students and about 60 doctoral students.

Monique Bird with UNT News Service can be reached at monique.bird@unt.edu.

Read other stories in this issue:

• President's Note
• See the basketball teams wrapping up the season
• Moving Forward: UNT is first Texas public university offering four-year aviation program
• Attend Feb. 27 Emerald "Super" Ball to support the Emerald Eagle Scholars program
• UNT breaks ground on new business building, football stadium
• Faculty Focus: Jincheng Du
• UNT Traditions: UNT Preview
• Featured Link: Emerald Eagle Scholars in South America
• UNT Alumni Association