What is textile recycling used for?
Textile recycling is the process by which old clothing and other textiles are recovered for reuse or material recovery. The importance of recycling textiles is increasingly being recognized. An estimated 100 billion garments are produced annually, worldwide.
The recycling rate for textiles derived from clothing and footwear was 13.0%, while the recovery for sheets and pillowcases was 15.8% for the same year.
As such, textile recycling is a significant challenge to be addressed as we strive to move closer to a zero landfill society.
This is an important step in order to achieve a sustainable environment.
Textile recycling offers various environmental benefits, such as decrease of landfill space requirements, bearing in mind that synthetic fiber products do not decompose and that natural fibers may release greenhouse gasses; Avoided use of virgin fibers; reduced consumption of energy and water; pollution avoidance and lessened demand for dyes.
In the European Union, about 50% of collected textiles are recycled and about 50% are reused. Approximately 35% of donated clothes are turned into industrial rags.
Most of the reused clothing is exported to other countries, like Africa.
All clothing has a second life that can be useful. Garments that have been collected are sorted into categories such as “natural,” “synthetic,” and “blended”.
The factory processes unwearable textiles into rags. Wiping and flocking industries collect rags for use in their products. Other materials will be sent to be re-fibered and stuffed with other materials.
As society becomes more familiar with the hazards associated with sending old textiles to the landfill, and as new recycling technologies develop, it can be anticipated that the textile recycling industry will continue to grow.
In order to create new garments, old fabrics are reclaimed and repurposed. Threads from the fabric are pulled out and re-woven into new garments or blankets using the threads that have been pulled out.
It is possible to recycle both natural and synthetic fibers in this way. Fabrics are sorted by type and color.
In the beginning, the material is shredded into shoddy-like fibers. Later, other fibers are blended with shoddy depending on the end use. To weave or knit, the blended mixture is carded and spun before it is used.
The fast fashion industry generates considerable pollution and a sizeable negative impact on climate change. Consumers can help affect change by choosing clothing brands that last longer and which demonstrate a commitment to reducing their climate change impact.
