Clothing of the future: Passive radiative cooling fabric that keeps the body cool by up to 7 degrees Celsius

Global warming has become a major challenge to protect public health and performance. Researchers from the University of South Australia and China have created a new ‘passive radiative cooling fabric’ to address this problem.

This special fabric can reduce the wearer’s body temperature by 5 to 7 degrees Celsius without any batteries or electricity. It basically works using a simple but powerful principle of physics -‘radiative cooling’ or radiation cooling.

This fabric is made of a biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) fiber, into which boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS) have been added. These nanosheets are highly efficient heat conductors. It reflects 96% of sunlight and releases body heat back into space as infrared radiation.

Ordinary cotton fabrics absorb sweat but retain heat, which can be uncomfortable in humid weather. But this new fabric helps sweat evaporate quickly and prevents the heat from entering the body.

The commercial importance of this innovation is immense. This clothing could be a lifesaver for construction workers, emergency services workers and members of the military.

It will save global energy by reducing dependence on AC. The researchers say that this fabric can be produced on an industrial scale in a roll-to-roll method and is washable.

This fabric is fully biodegradable, meaning it won’t create microplastic waste after use, which is better for the environment.

This technology has been trialed commercially for use in sportswear and camping gear since the summer of 2025. This is an innovation that proves that technology can help us adapt to a warming world.