Harper students go green with graduation gowns

Harper College graduates may want to get out a shovel after collecting their diploma this spring.

In one of the Palatine institution's more creative go-green initiatives, graduates will dress in biodegradable gowns that break down when thrown away.

The robes - blue in honor of Harper's official colors - are made of a natural fiber stemming from renewable, managed forests and decompose in the soil within just a year when discarded. The zipper is made of recycled plastic and the packaging is eco-friendly, too.

A product of Minneapolis-based Jostens, the robes are supposed to have the same texture and style of typical graduation gowns. They're a growing trend at graduations across the nation.

In the past, Harper rented gowns that were collected after the ceremony and then dry-cleaned. The process used an enormous amount of fuel and chemicals, according to Maria Moten, Dean of Enrollment Services and a member of the graduation committee.

"These new gowns are just as good quality, but they're eco-friendly, which helps us demonstrate to students the importance of looking out for the environment," Moten said in a statement.

Manufacturers say the gowns won't dissolve in the rain and have to be buried in the ground in order to decompose.