Fiona Ford
Fiona Ford is a researcher of circular economy within fashion and textiles specialising in product design, materials, supply chains, industry initiatives and impact assessment. Fiona is currently engaged in research and teaching at the University of Manchester where her PhD assesses the environmental impacts of supply chains for recycled textile fibres. Fiona has extensive knowledge of fashion product development spanning a ten-year career in industry. After completing a master’s degree in Fashion Ethics at Heriot-Watt University, Fiona worked on circular economy projects in the charity sector. Fiona aspires to contribute to scalable circular economy systems that bring meaningful reductions in environmental impacts.
Question: What is your research about?
My current research is about the recycling of post-consumer cotton textiles into new regenerated fibres. Cotton is in short supply in the textile industry, and it is thought that the recycled fibres can help to bridge the market gap that is currently being fulfilled by petroleum-based materials. Cotton fibres are predominantly made up of cellulose. The recycling process changes the molecular structure of the cellulose giving the material slightly different properties. This technique has overcome the technical challenge of separating the material from unknown contaminants present in post-consumer textiles. The removal of these contaminants has increased commercial appeal, where conventional mechanical recycling techniques have struggled to maintain the materials’ value.
The project has two aspects of study. The first is a qualitative investigation to determine the extent to which the recycled cellulose can substitute other materials, like cotton and polyester. The second is an environmental assessment of the recycling process using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. The assessment will consider the effects of material displacement on LCA results.
Question: What got you into this field of research?
I worked in design for several years before I got into research. My instinct to design and to conserve the natural environment led me to explore the principles of a circular economy. The concept of redesigning the economic system to uphold the needs of communities, the planet and businesses appealed to me on several levels. Above all I could see potential for impact in terms of bringing the incumbent stakeholders onside. Circular business models have really taken off in the past decade. However, the circular economy is subject to a lot of greenwashing. This is the reason it is important to understand LCA and how it can be used to estimate the environmental impacts.
Question: Who/what inspires you to do this work?
Planet earth is a unique and beautiful place and I feel gratitude for the forces that have brought me here. I would say that I am inspired by the people I have met and all the places I have visited during my life. I believe that the world deserves better than the present economic power structure and the harm and suffering that is inflicted by industrial practices.
Question: Why did you choose the Tyndall Centre to do your PhD?
Tyndall is, of course, an interdisciplinary research centre. My route to Tyndall was through the University of Manchester’s department for Materials as my project investigates the environmental impacts of cellulose. I was delighted to have the opportunity to join the centre. The experience has been exceptional in terms of the amount of engagement and activity that the centre organises. Tyndall is proactive, not only in research, but also in the practicalities and impact of its implementation. The centre has been pivotal to my understanding of how research operates which appeals to my practical nature and appreciation of good design.
Question: Do you have any advice for those who want to do a PhD?
Embarking on a PhD journey can often be isolating, given the autonomy expected in most projects. Being part of the Tyndall research community and the Tyndall Early Career Network (TECN) network has been an invaluable source of motivation and support that has helped me overcome the challenges associated with lone working. My advice to prospective PhD candidates is to actively engage with your research community as much as possible. The time taken to participate will not only enrich your current experience but will pay back dividends in your future.
Lois Pennington
Lois is a final year PhD researcher based at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change at the University of Manchester. Her research explores the management of waste in the aviation sector, using volume estimations and environmental assessments to calculate the impact of both cabin and airport waste management on the planet. She also explores alternative futures for cabin waste management, investigating the environmental, technological, and economic impact and benefits of future changes in the way the UK handles its inbound international catering waste.
Question: What is your research about?
My research looks at the way we currently manage rubbish that is generated during flights, known as cabin waste or International Catering Waste. A surprising amount of waste is generated in the air, especially on long distance flights, and a lot of it is recyclable material or food waste. Even so, due to health and safety laws, almost all waste from flights must be sent to landfill or incineration, which is of course not ideal. I focus on the UK, and how we could reduce the environmental impact of this waste handling, but it’s a global problem.
Question: What got you into this field of research?
My background is in Chemical Engineering, and after graduating I went to work as an engineer for a few years in Belgium. I really enjoyed my job, but sustainability has always been something I am passionate about and I knew that long-term it was what I wanted to be working on. This PhD was an opportunity to move into something more aligned with my personal goals. My initial PhD scope was looking at waste management at Manchester Airport, which I felt would use my experience in industry more than lab-based work, but in the end the interesting thread of research was to focus on this understudied field of cabin waste.
Question: Who/what inspires you to do this work?
The climate crisis is likely one of the biggest challenges that the world will face in my lifetime (and beyond). We are in a critical decade, so to be working on ways to try to alleviate it just feels like the right thing to do. I’m also very lucky to have some close friends from my undergraduate days who also work in the climate space, and their passion really motivated me to change careers.
Question: Why did you choose the Tyndall Centre to do your PhD?
If I’m honest, I hadn’t heard of the Tyndall Centre before my interview! I knew very little about academia beyond taught programmes, but I’m so glad that I did choose to complete my PhD here. Collegiality is something that is really important to me, I want to come to work and be with people I can have a cup of tea with. My experience with Tyndall is of a group that supports each other and raises each other up, celebrates achievements and helps where they can. We have lots of cups of tea. Equally, working in an interdisciplinary group such as this has been really essential for my learning. My PhD is in quite a focused area, but working alongside people who research such a wide range of topics including climate policy, climate justice, the Global South, increasing resilience (among many others) gives such important context to my own work.
Question: Do you have any advice for those who want to do a PhD?
Firstly, be interested in your work. Three or four years working on one topic is going to get boring and difficult, if you have a curiosity about what you are doing then that should help to carry you through some of the rougher patches! My other advice is to find community. During a PhD you typically aren’t working in a team and it can get quite lonely. It’s also a process that most people in your life won’t have been through. Whether it’s your colleagues, people you meet at conferences or through other networks, having people you can talk to about the process can make it much easier. Advice I got from people in their final year, while I was only four months in, has stuck with me to the end.
