Japanese Recycled Bra Program Creates Cleaner Energy

If we're to succeed without burning fossil fuels, we've got to always be on the lookout for alternative forms of energy.  Some great advancements are being made in the development of new types of power -- we've seen it all, from creating hydrogen fuel to recycling old newspapers.  But major Japanese undergarment manufacturer Wacoal recently launched a truly unique recycling program for creating fuel.

According to Earth 911, since 2008, the underwear manufacturer has encouraged women to recycle their bras so that metal and other materials could be "converted into a type of fuel used for boilers and power generation facilities."  Since the program's inception, Wacoal has collected enough donations to produce almost 18 tons of fuel.

How does it work?  The used bras, which contain both fabric and metal wiring, are converted into a fuel that's classified as "refuse paper and plastic fuel" (RPF).  Earth 911 reports that the "bra-based RPF fuel has a combustion efficiency similar to coal but emits far less carbon dioxide."  This means that lots of energy can be produced with fewer impurities being released into the atmosphere.

What do you think -- would you be willing to give up old bras to help create cleaner energy?  Perhaps it's time for the U.S. to invest in similar fuel-generating technologies!