Textile recycling

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Textiles collection boxes in Brussels Cabine Petits riens.JPG
Textiles collection boxes in Brussels

Textile recycling is the process of recovering fiber, yarn, or fabric and reprocessing the material into new, useful products. [1] Textile waste is split into pre-consumer and post-consumer waste and is sorted into five different categories derived from a pyramid model. [2] [3] Textiles can be either reused or mechanically/chemically recycled. [4] [5]

Contents

There has been a shift in recent years toward recycling textiles because of new regulations in several countries. [6] In response, companies are developing products from both post-consumer waste and recycled materials such as plastics. Results from academic studies demonstrate that textile reuse and recycling are more advantageous than incineration and landfilling. [7]

Waste

Over 100 billion garments are produced annually, most of which end up in incinerators or landfills. The EPA reported that in 2018 alone, 17 million tons of textile municipal solid waste (MSW) was generated. The fashion industry is arguably one of the second biggest polluters next to the oil industry. [8] By textile recycling, it decreases landfill space, creates less pollution, and reduces the consumption of power and water. Most materials used in textile recycling can be split into two categories: pre-consumer and post-consumer waste. [2]

Poster promoting textile recycling, World War II, United Kingdom I Need Your Rags Art.IWMPST14735.jpg
Poster promoting textile recycling, World War II, United Kingdom

Pre-consumer

Pre-consumer waste involves secondary materials from the textile, fiber, and cotton industries. [2] These products are repurposed for other industries i.e. furniture, mattress, coarse yarn, home building, automotive, paper, and apparel. [2]

Pre-consumer can also refer to overstock or left-over garments that retailers have not been able to sell to consumers. These left-over garments are then repurposed and used to create new pieces of clothing while being environmentally sustainable. [9]

Post-consumer

Post-consumer waste consists of textile garments and household articles that have been discarded by their owners. These textile articles are typically discarded because they are damaged, worn out, or outdated. 85% of post-consumer waste in the United States, however, is found in landfills. [2] The remaining post-consumer waste can be directed towards second-hand retailers to be resold or passed on to warehouses dedicated to textile recycling.

Categories

Textiles are sorted into categories according to the pyramid model, which organizes textiles by their quality and usability. [3] These category placements determine which processes are used to recycle or reuse the textile. [3] Such categories are: textiles for used clothing markets, textiles for conversion, wiping and polishing cloths, textiles sent to landfills and incinerators, and diamonds. [3]

Diamonds

Diamonds are older, trendier clothing items that are from high-end, well-known brands. [2] Diamonds make up 1–2% of recycled textiles. [2] Despite being the smallest category, diamonds generate the largest amount of profit per item for recycling companies. [2] Clothing and accessories that are considered diamonds include couture, Harley Davidson, Levi's, Ralph Lauren, and luxury fibers (for example cashmere). [2] These second-hand clothing articles are in high demand and can be sold online, in retail boutiques, or in vintage shops. [2]

Landfill and incineration

Around 7% of recycled textile products are either incinerated or placed in a landfill. [2] Textiles that are placed in landfills have no value and are unable to be repurposed; this process is costly and is avoided when possible. [2] Textiles can also be incinerated to produce electrical energy. [2] This practice is more common in Europe than in the United States because European boiler systems have higher capabilities than American boiler systems. [2] Although incinerating municipal solid waste (MSW) is not yet feasible in the United States, over two thirds of MSW is incinerated in countries such as Denmark, Japan, and Switzerland. [10] The energy values of burning MSW have been comparable with oil in terms of calories; however, there are obstacles to this process. These obstacles include increasing incineration efficiency and reducing harmful byproducts of incineration. [10]

Wiping and polishing cloths

Around 17% of used textiles are sorted into the wiping and polishing cloth category. [2] These textiles are deemed un-wearable and are then used to create wiping and polishing cloths. [2] Wiping and polishing cloths can be made from a combination of oleophilic and hydrophilic fibers which are often useful in industrial application. [2] Textiles, such as T-shirts, are commonly used to create these cloths due to its naturally absorbent cotton fibers. [2]

Conversion to new products

29% of textile waste is reengineered into new products if deemed unusable. [2] Usability depends on whether or not the textiles are stained or torn beyond repair. [2] Shoddy and mungo are the two main results of the reengineering process. [2]

Shoddy involves creating new yarn products from the old materials, and is one of the most historical examples of textile recycling. [11] One of the largest producers of shoddy yarn is Panipat in North India, which has over 300 mills. [12] The majority of shoddy in Panipat is used to create knit blankets, making up over 90% of the blankets that are given to communities in disaster relief. [12]

Mungo was invented after shoddy and refers to the process of using textile clippings to make wool. This wool is exported to European countries, whose cooler climates and flammability regulations result in a greater need for mungo. [11]

Shoddy and mungo can be utilized for both high and low quality products. These reengineered fibers have been used in cashmere sweaters and in stuffing for furniture, automobiles, and punching bags. [2]

Used clothing markets

48% of textiles are sorted into the used clothing markets category. [2] Western countries export used textiles to developing countries or to disaster relief. [2] In developing nations, used Western textiles are highly valued as they are often more affordable than local textiles. [2] Used Western textiles are also sold to the lower and middle classes in more developed countries whose incomes are not large enough to purchase more-expensive, local textiles. [2] Because textile exportation is a global industry, exporters must be conscious of the varying trade regulations and restrictions in different countries. [3]


According to Green America recycled textiles are sorted by color with zippers and buttons being removed using magnets and are then spun into yards of thread using weaving. This avoids materials being sent to landfills or incinerators. [24]

Processing

Reuse

Textile reuse is the preferable processing method because it extends the original product's lifetime. [4] Reuse occurs when textile owners rent, trade, swap, borrow, inherit products through second-hand stores, garage sales, online/flea markets, or charities. [4] In reusing textiles, the textile is sometimes changed through cutting and sewing or through decorating the textiles with paints, patches and other textiles in a process referred to as DIY.

Recycling

Clothes recycling bin in Tin King Estate, Hong Kong Clothes recycle bin at Tin King Estate in October 2022.jpg
Clothes recycling bin in Tin King Estate, Hong Kong

Mechanical

Mechanical processing is a recycling method in which textile fabric is broken down while the fibers are still preserved. [5] Once shredded down, these fibers can be spun to create new fabrics. [5] This is the most commonly used technique to recycle textiles and is a process that is particularly well developed for cotton textiles. [5] Mechanical processing protocols can differ depending on the material, so it also requires several levels of sorting before the process begins.

Textiles must be separated by fabric composition and by color to avoid re-dying and bleaching of materials. [13] Once sorted, the textile materials can then be shredded, washed, and separated into smaller fibers. [13] These individual fibers are then aligned together in a process known as carding in preparation to be spun together. Some fibers, including cotton, must be spun along with a carrier fiber to maintain higher quality. [13] These carrier fibers are most commonly cotton, organic cotton, or polyester. Once the fibers are spun into new yarn, they can be used to create new textiles. This process functions as a semi-closed loop of recycling. [5] The number of times a material can be recycled is dependent on the quality of the fibers, which decreases with each cycle of mechanical processing.

Mechanical processing can also be used with materials other than textiles. One common example of this is polyester. [13] In the case of polyester, the recycled materials are plastic bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). [13] In a similar manner to textiles, plastics are sorted by color and type when they arrive at recycling facilities. [13] The plastic is then shredded and washed to break it down and remove contaminants. [13] The dried plastic remnants are molded into PET pellets and then undergo extrusion to create new fibers. [13] These new fibers can then be used to create new textiles.

Chemical

Chemical processing occurs when textile reuse is infeasible. [14] This process is not yet widely implemented, but there are companies that are researching and integrating chemical recycling. [14] The major small scale production sites are from Eco Circle, Worn Again, Evrnu, and Ioncell. [14]

Chemical recycling is used on synthetic fibers, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). [14] These synthetic fibers can be broken down to create fibers, yarn, and textiles. [14] For PET, the starting materials are first broken down to the molecular level by using chemicals that facilitate glycolysis, methanolysis, hydrolysis, and/or ammonolysis. [14] This act of depolymerization also removes contaminants from the starting material such as dyes and unwanted fibers. [15] From here, the material is polymerized and used to produce textile products. [13]

Unlike the mechanical method of recycling, chemical recycling produces high-quality fibers similar to the original fiber used. [13] Therefore, no new fibers are needed to support the product of the chemical process. [13] Different chemicals and processes are used for other materials such as nylon and cellulose-based fibers, but the overall structure of the process is the same. [13]

Textiles made from recycled materials

Many companies develop their products from a combination of recycled post-consumer textile waste as well as other recycled materials such as plastics. [16] This can be done for textiles other than clothing as well. [17]

One specific region that is more progressive in applications of recycled textiles is Scandinavia, which has created mainstream market products. [17] In Sweden, companies such as Lindex and H&M are including pre-consumer and post-consumer waste fibers within their new clothing lines. [17]

Growth

A shift toward recycled textiles

New regulations for the textile industry have been introduced in several countries that favor the use of recycled materials. On March 30, 2022, the European Commission published the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles which outlines the EU’s action plan to achieve better sustainability and regulation within the textile industry. [6] The European Commission’s goal for 2030 is to encourage consumers to invest in high quality products rather than “fast-fashion”, and to ensure all textile products are durable, whether they are recycled materials or not. [6] The EU's strategy includes regulating overproduction, reducing the release of microplastics during production, and utilizing EU Extended Producer Responsibility to ensure producers are acting sustainably. [6]

In response to shifting consumer expectations, investments in textile recycling companies have increased to achieve better sustainability in the textile industry. [18] Inditex and Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures invested in the start-up recycling company Circ in July 2022, which has patented new technologies to reengineer used fibers. [19] In July 2021, H&M and Adidas invested in the chemical recycling company Infinited Fiber Company (IFC) which produces a reengineered fiber that is similar to cotton and is biodegradable. [20] Goldman Sachs led an investment in mechanically recycled cotton company Recover Textile Systems in June 2022. [21]

Many luxury fashion brands are publicly displaying their investment in sustainability approaches, with a common goal to shift towards circular systems and utilizing re-engineered and/or biodegradable materials in their collections. [22]

Environmental impact

Textile reuse and textile recycling processes are the most environmentally friendly methods of processing textiles, while incineration and landfilling are considered to be the least environmentally friendly. [7] When comparing textile reuse to textile recycling, textile reuse is more advantageous. [7] A Swedish study found that for each tonne of textile waste, textile reuse can save 8 tonnes of CO2 in terms of global warming potential (GWP) and 164 GJ of energy usage. [23] In comparison, textile recycling saves 5.6 tonnes of CO2 in terms of GWP and 116 GJ of energy usage. [23]

There are a few circumstances under which recycling and reuse might be less effective. For instance, regarding recycling, the benefits might be offset if the replacement rates are relatively low, if recycling is energized by fossil fuels, or if the avoided manufacture procedures are clean. Also, with respect to reuse, the environmental impact of transport may surpass the upsides of the avoided manufacturing, unless the use life of the reused item is considerably prolonged. These circumstances should be taken into account when advocating, designing and implementing new textile recycling and reuse procedures. [24]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Textile</span> Various fiber-based materials

Textile is an umbrella term that includes various fiber-based materials, including fibers, yarns, filaments, threads, different fabric types, etc. At first, the word "textiles" only referred to woven fabrics. However, weaving is not the only manufacturing method, and many other methods were later developed to form textile structures based on their intended use. Knitting and non-woven are other popular types of fabric manufacturing. In the contemporary world, textiles satisfy the material needs for versatile applications, from simple daily clothing to bulletproof jackets, spacesuits, and doctor's gowns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Recycling</span> Converting waste materials into new products

Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. This concept often includes the recovery of energy from waste materials. The recyclability of a material depends on its ability to reacquire the properties it had in its original state. It is an alternative to "conventional" waste disposal that can save material and help lower greenhouse gas emissions. It can also prevent the waste of potentially useful materials and reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reducing energy use, air pollution and water pollution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waste management</span> Activities and actions required to manage waste from its source to its final disposal

Waste management or waste disposal includes the processes and actions required to manage waste from its inception to its final disposal. This includes the collection, transport, treatment, and disposal of waste, together with monitoring and regulation of the waste management process and waste-related laws, technologies, and economic mechanisms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polyethylene terephthalate</span> Polymer

Polyethylene terephthalate (or poly(ethylene terephthalate), PET, PETE, or the obsolete PETP or PET-P), is the most common thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family and is used in fibres for clothing, containers for liquids and foods, and thermoforming for manufacturing, and in combination with glass fibre for engineering resins.

Eastman Chemical Company is an American company primarily involved in the chemical industry. Once a subsidiary of Kodak, today it is an independent global specialty materials company that produces a broad range of advanced materials, chemicals and fibers for everyday purposes. Founded in 1920 and based in Kingsport, Tennessee, the company operates 36 manufacturing sites worldwide and employs approximately 14,000 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zero waste</span> Philosophy that encourages the redesign of resource life cycles so that all products are reused

Zero waste, or waste minimization, is a set of principles focused on waste prevention that encourages redesigning resource life cycles so that all products are repurposed and/or reused. The goal of the movement is to avoid sending trash to landfills, incinerators, oceans, or any other part of the environment. Currently 9% of global plastic is recycled. In a zero waste system, all materials are reused until the optimum level of consumption is reached.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Material efficiency</span>

Material efficiency is a description or metric ((Mp) (the ratio of material used to the supplied material)) which refers to decreasing the amount of a particular material needed to produce a specific product. Making a usable item out of thinner stock than a prior version increases the material efficiency of the manufacturing process. Material efficiency is associated with Green building and Energy conservation, as well as other ways of incorporating Renewable resources in the building process from start to finish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plastic recycling</span> Processes which convert waste plastic into new items

Plastic recycling is the processing of plastic waste into other products. Recycling can reduce dependence on landfill, conserve resources and protect the environment from plastic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling rates lag those of other recoverable materials, such as aluminium, glass and paper. From the start of production through to 2015, the world produced some 6.3 billion tonnes of plastic waste, only 9% of which has been recycled, and only ~1% has been recycled more than once. Of the remaining waste, 12% was incinerated and 79% either sent to landfill or lost into the environment as pollution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Municipal solid waste</span> Type of waste consisting of everyday items discarded by the public

Municipal solid waste (MSW), commonly known as trash or garbage in the United States and rubbish in Britain, is a waste type consisting of everyday items that are discarded by the public. "Garbage" can also refer specifically to food waste, as in a garbage disposal; the two are sometimes collected separately. In the European Union, the semantic definition is 'mixed municipal waste,' given waste code 20 03 01 in the European Waste Catalog. Although the waste may originate from a number of sources that has nothing to do with a municipality, the traditional role of municipalities in collecting and managing these kinds of waste have produced the particular etymology 'municipal.'

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fast fashion</span> Quick retail copying of catwalk trends

Fast fashion is the business model of replicating recent catwalk trends and high-fashion designs, mass-producing them at a low cost, and bringing them to retail quickly while demand is at its highest. The term fast fashion is also used generically to describe the products of this business model. Retailers who employ the fast fashion strategy include Primark, H&M, Shein, and Zara, all of which have become large multinationals by driving high turnover of inexpensive seasonal and trendy clothing that appeals to fashion-conscious consumers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upcycling</span> Recycling waste into products of higher quality

Upcycling, also known as creative reuse, is the process of transforming by-products, waste materials, useless, or unwanted products into new materials or products perceived to be of greater quality, such as artistic value or environmental value.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sustainable fashion</span> Part of design philosophy and trend of sustainability in fashion

Sustainable fashion is a term describing efforts within the fashion industry to reduce its environmental impacts, protect workers producing garments, and uphold animal welfare. Sustainability in fashion encompasses a wide range of factors, including "cutting CO2 emissions, addressing overproduction, reducing pollution and waste, supporting biodiversity, and ensuring that garment workers are paid a fair wage and have safe working conditions".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Micro-sustainability</span> Individual or small scale sustainability efforts

Micro-sustainability is the portion of sustainability centered around small scale environmental measures that ultimately affect the environment through a larger cumulative impact. Micro-sustainability centers on individual efforts, behavior modification, education and creating attitudinal changes, which result in an environmentally conscious individual. Micro-sustainability encourages sustainable changes through "change agents"—individuals who foster positive environmental action locally and inside their sphere of influence. Examples of micro-sustainability include recycling, power saving by turning off unused lights, programming thermostats for efficient use of energy, reducing water usage, changing commuting habits to use less fossil fuels or modifying buying habits to reduce consumption and waste. The emphasis of micro-sustainability is on an individual's actions, rather than organizational or institutional practices at the systemic level. These small local level actions have immediate community benefits if undertaken on a widespread scale and if imitated, they can have a cumulative broad impact.

Products made from a variety of materials can be recycled using a number of processes.

Resource recovery is using wastes as an input material to create valuable products as new outputs. The aim is to reduce the amount of waste generated, thereby reducing the need for landfill space, and optimising the values created from waste. Resource recovery delays the need to use raw materials in the manufacturing process. Materials found in municipal solid waste, construction and demolition waste, commercial waste and industrial wastes can be used to recover resources for the manufacturing of new materials and products. Plastic, paper, aluminium, glass and metal are examples of where value can be found in waste.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cotton recycling</span>

Cotton recycling is the process of converting cotton fabric into fibers that can be reused into other textile products.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel</span>

The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) is a public research institute in Hong Kong. It was established in April 2006 and hosted by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). With funding support from the Innovation and Technology Commission, HKSAR Government, it acts as a focal point to enhance technological innovation in textiles and apparel industry for the development of highly competitive industrial clusters in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environmental impact of fashion</span>

The fashion industry, particularly manufacture and use of apparel and footwear, is a significant driver of greenhouse gas emissions and plastic pollution. The rapid growth of fast fashion has led to around 80 billion items of clothing being consumed annually, with about 85% of clothes consumed in United States being sent to landfill.

Econyl regenerated nylon is a product introduced in 2011 by Aquafil. It is made entirely from ocean and landfill waste, such as industrial plastic, fabric scraps from clothing manufacturing companies, old carpets and "ghost nets". The product has been used by Stella McCartney, Kelly Slater's label Outerknown, Adidas and Speedo swimwear, Levi's, Breitling, Cantik Swimwear, Rapanui and Panarea Couture swimwear.

Recover Textile Systems, mainly known as Recover™, is a materials science company and producer of mechanically recycled cotton fiber and recycled cotton fiber blends, created in 2020 with its headquarters in Banyeres de Mariola, Spain.

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