Ann Arbor Times

Barcodes woven into clothing fabrics could soon help improve recycling rates and reduce counterfeiting, according to a new initiative from Fibarcode, a startup founded at the University of Michigan. The company has secured approximately $1.6 million through a National Science Foundation Small Business Technology Transfer Fast-Track grant to further develop and commercialize this technology.

Currently, less than 15% of the 92 million tons of textiles discarded each year are recycled. One challenge is that traditional labels often do not remain attached throughout the life cycle of a garment, as they may be removed or wear away. This complicates sorting for recycling and makes it easier for counterfeit items to use inaccurate tags regarding material content or origin.

Fibarcode’s approach involves embedding photonic fibers directly into textiles. These fibers can be engineered to absorb specific wavelengths of light—ranging from ultraviolet to infrared—by altering their internal structure with layers of acrylic and polycarbonate. While these materials are transparent individually, together they refract light in ways that produce optical effects similar to natural coloration seen in butterfly wings.

The unique combinations of absorbed wavelengths serve as identification codes. A scanner can read these codes and quickly access information about the garment's fabric composition, designer label authenticity, and supply chain details such as thread and fabric suppliers. Multiple types of photonic fibers can be combined within one textile to increase the number of possible unique identifiers.

With this new funding, Fibarcode plans to launch its first pilot program in collaboration with industry partners and recycling centers. The company is also looking for additional collaborators across the supply chain.

Fibarcode was established in 2024 by Brian Iezzi, who earned his doctorate from the University of Michigan’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering. He developed this technology alongside Max Shtein, professor in materials science and engineering as well as chemical engineering at U-M, during an earlier research project supported by the National Science Foundation.

Both Iezzi and Shtein participated in entrepreneurial training provided by the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps Hub: Great Lakes region, which is led by the University of Michigan. This program aims to help researchers broaden their impact beyond academia.

With assistance from U-M Innovation Partnerships, patent protection was secured for their invention before Iezzi launched Fibarcode. Both he and the university maintain a financial interest in the company.

"Iezzi co-invented and developed the technology in Max Shtein’s lab as part of an earlier NSF-sponsored research project," according to the release.

"They both received entrepreneurial education and mentoring from the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps Hub: Great Lakes region, which is led by U-M," it continues.

"With help from U-M Innovation Partnerships, Shtein and Iezzi secured patent protection," adds the statement.

"Iezzi launched Fibarcode; Iezzi and U-M have a financial interest in Fibarcode," concludes the release.