Geosynthetics offer an extensive range of uses across the energy sector, serving critical roles in industries from oil, gas, and coal to nuclear, hydropower, wind, and solar energy. These materials are employed in lining storage tanks, stabilizing access roads, lining tailings ponds, providing filtration, dewatering coal ash, and supporting freshwater storage.

In 1957, after a tropical storm had caused severe beach erosion at the Florida home of the president of Carthage Mills, he joined forces with engineers from the Coastal Engineering Lab at the University of Florida to protect his property against future storms. They eventually developed a tough woven synthetic filter fabric with design properties that permitted water to pass through while holding back sand and particles.