MIAMI, March 6 (UPI) -- Officials at Florida International University say this year's graduating seniors will be the first to get caps and gowns made entirely of recycled plastic.
In May the 4,500 students are expected to attend commencement wearing apparel made completely from an earth-friendly fabric spun from pellets melted down from recycled plastic bottles, The Miami Herald reported Sunday.
"This is an innovative way to show our commitment to sustainability and make an impact given the size of our graduating classes,'' said Provost Douglas Wartzok. "These gowns truly make us worlds ahead on our continued commitment to be an environmentally conscious university."
The fabric used to make the caps and gowns is called GreenWeaver which feels like traditional fabric. It is spun from molten plastic pellets derived from an average of 23 plastic bottles per gown and made in the United States, the newspaper said.
