Hult students win sustainability award with innovative fashion tech

Two students from Hult Business School have been declared winners in a sustainability competition for their ground-breaking tech solution aimed at advancing the sustainability factor in fashion. Dhafi Irsan and George Brus took home the top honours and secured an internship at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

The competition, hosted annually by TCS, sought solutions to sustainability challenges set by various businesses, including Primark. The two students' creative and practical response to this challenge was commended, given the considerable environmental impact of the UK clothing industry, which is responsible for roughly 350,000 tonnes of textiles ending up in landfills yearly.

The competition dubbed the TCS UK and Ireland Sustainathon, has been designed to motivate university students to create digital solutions that address real-world business sustainability challenges. The 2023 edition saw 70 teams from 31 universities enter the fray, a significant increase from the 12 taking part in 2022. Total registrations also rose appreciably from 156 in 2022 to 255 in 2023, demonstrating the growing interest in and awareness of sustainability issues among the student population.

The benefits of the competition extend beyond the students and into the broader tech industry. The rising importance of sustainability to businesses, particularly amongst younger staff members, makes the competition a fitting representation of how STEM education can train students for sustainable-related entry-level roles within the industry.

For Sustainathon, the victorious duo responded to Primark's challenge by providing a concept for returning clothing items for recycling and reuse. This initiative seeks to enhance the circularity and lifespan of products. The quality and ingenuity of their entry were acknowledged, and they were subsequently awarded internships at TCS.

Gopalan Rajagopalan, Head of TCS Scotland, pointed out that the Sustainathon was born out of TCS's commitment to tackle environmental challenges and aid in building sustainable futures through innovative digital techs. He appreciated the increasingly positive response of students, hoping the competition "has encouraged some of the students to consider sustainability as a career choice."

One of the competition's judges, Daisy Narayanan MBE, also applauded the initiative. She emphasised the importance of such initiatives, citing them as opportunities for public sector leaders to make decisions that stand the test of time. Winning team members Irsan and Bru expressed their pride in being part of Sustainathon. They said their solution to the Primark challenge "enabled us to tackle a challenge nobody has yet solved, making fast fashion sustainable."

Looking ahead, Piyali Sen, Head of Sustainability and ESG Business, TCS UK and Ireland, stated the competition aspires to increase its influence on the UK's economy. With the spirit of accelerating the UK's net zero target, she encouraged contestants from nationwide universities to meet the sustainability challenges set by reputable UK businesses.