Sustainable e-textiles—development and importance

Multifunctional and wearable e-textiles are gaining popularity as more people realize that such technology can make their lives safer, greener, and more pleasant. Furthermore, recent advances in materials science and electronics have led to the development of a wide range of electronic textile components, such as sensors, energy harvesters, batteries, and antennas that can be printed on flexible and breathable textile substrates. It is possible to make electronic textiles in one of four main ways: either by directly weaving electronic fibres into fabrics, by integrating fibre-shaped electrical gadgets into commercial fabrics, by coating commercial fabrics with conductive materials, or by carbonizing commercial fabrics to create conductive fabrics. However, sustainably making e-textiles with particular reference to their lifetimes is of paramount interest nowadays. Therefore, this chapter highlights the development and importance of e-textiles and their potential market growth to build a next-generation smart and sustainable e-textile-based society.