Exploring sustainable design, textile recycling and the future of green careers…
Roberts Recycling recently partnered with the University of Chester to deliver a guest lecture focused on the role of design in building a more sustainable future.
Company Directors John Roberts and Paul Roberts were invited to speak with second-year students studying fashion, interior and graphic design, with Roberts Recycling highlighted as a real world example of a business embodying the three pillars of a sustainable business: environmental, social and economic.
The lecture explored the relationship between the fashion industry and textile recycling, highlighting the growing scale of the global textile waste crisis and the critical role designers play in influencing end-of-life outcomes.
Students were encouraged to consider how early-stage design decisions, from material selection to branding and product lifecycle thinking, directly impact reuse, recyclability and responsible disposal.
The session also introduced students to the breadth of green career opportunities emerging across the textile and circular economy sectors, helping bridge the gap between creative disciplines and sustainability-led industries.
The visit was hosted by course leaders Rebecca Falcon, Jennifer John, Simon Winter and Janey Deng Klingelfuss, who welcomed the opportunity to connect academic learning with real-world industry insight.
Reflecting on the session, Dr Janey Deng Klingelfuss, Senior Lecturer at the University of Chester, said:
“A really inspirational talk for our design students. It linked perfectly with our recent discussions around design ethics, influence and responsibility, and the choices designers make. I’m looking forward to exploring this further through branding and campaigning with our graphic design students.”
Roberts Recycling looks forward to continuing its collaboration with the University of Chester, supporting future student projects and helping inspire the next generation of designers to embed sustainability at the heart of their creative practice.
