Hi Reader,

This week’s newsletter is all about seeing “waste” in a completely new way.

I was paging through my son’s latest edition of The Week Junior magazine when I stumbled upon a fascinating article in the Science & Technology section. It was all about a company creating fiber from… wait for it… potatoes.

Naturally, I had to learn more.

A UK company called Fibe is transforming potato plant waste — the stems and leaves left behind after harvest — into sustainable clothing fibers. Instead of letting agricultural waste go unused, they’re turning it into textiles that could help reduce reliance on resource-heavy materials like cotton.

It’s such a fascinating real-world example of STEM, sustainability, engineering, and innovation all working together.

I also found a short YouTube video that explains the process in a kid-friendly way if you’d like to explore it with your learners:

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And speaking of potatoes…

If you’ve ever discovered sprouted potatoes in your kitchen and wondered if they were destined for the compost bin, this is your reminder that they can become a hands-on science lesson instead.

I created a free activity that teaches kids how to grow new potato plants from sprouted potatoes — a simple way to explore food waste prevention, plant science, and gardening together.

Grab the free potato growing activity here:

It’s one of my favorite reminders that sustainability often starts with simply looking at everyday “waste” a little differently.

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Until next week,

— Jessica

Founder of Thoughtfully Sustainable​
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P.S. Local PA friends - have you grabbed your tickets to my STEM and Sustainability Summer Camp yet? Get them here before they sell out!

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