The Class of 2010 at the University of Pennsylvania, my beloved alma mater, will rock green graduation caps and gowns at their commencement ceremonies. These Oak Hall 'GreenWeaver' caps and gowns are made from 100% recycled plastic bottles.
According to Oak Hall, it takes about 23 recycled bottles to create each gown. The University of Pennsylvania's vice president of business services, Marie Witt, did a side-by-side test with the GreenWeaver gowns and traditional graduation gowns. When KYW Newsradio 1060 asked Witt if the gowns felt like plastic, she said, "Actually not. I did a side-by-side comparison and I failed. I couldn't tell. The eco-friendly ones were quite lovely."
Since each cap and gown from Oak Hall's 'GreenWeaver' line costs the same as a traditional version, there's no reason other schools shouldn't follow in the University of Pennsylvania's lead and adopt green graduation apparel.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Green Graduation Apparel
- Opportunity for the development and adoption of more sustainable graduation attire made from recycled materials, creating a more environmentally-friendly industry.
- Recycled Plastic Fashion
- Disruptive innovation opportunity to create fashion items from recycled plastic materials, reducing waste and promoting sustainability.
- Eco-friendly University Initiatives
- Trend of universities implementing eco-friendly practices, such as adopting green graduation gowns, to reduce their environmental impact and promote sustainability.
Where This Applies
- Fashion Industry
- Potential for the fashion industry to incorporate more sustainable and recycled materials in their products, catering to environmentally-conscious consumers.
- Higher Education
- Opportunity for other colleges and universities to follow in the footsteps of the University of Pennsylvania and adopt eco-friendly initiatives, such as using green graduation gowns.
- Recycling Industry
- Disruptive innovation opportunity for the recycling industry to create new markets and products, such as turning plastic bottles into graduation apparel.
