Textile recycling

There are four types of recycling: upcycling, downcycling, closed-loop, and open-loop recycling. Upcycling is the process of using a textile to create something higher quality than the original. In the United States, New York City has begun working with natural fibers like bamboo and hemp to make not just clothing, but bags as well. ==Technology==

There are many technologies that assist in the recycling of textile products: • Anaerobic digestion of textile waste – decomposition of organic cotton textile to collect methane and other biogas • Fermentation of textile waste for ethanol production – cotton fabric provides enhancement of bioethanol production • Composting of textile waste – cotton waste provides an excellent source of nutrients in compost • Fiber regeneration from textile waste – recovery of glucose and polyester is possible and allows for reuse of material • Building/construction material from textile waste – use of textiles in building materials and construction • Thermal recovery – incineration of remaining textiles to collect usable energy ==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) were generated. The fashion industry is often cited as the second biggest polluter next to the oil industry. Textile recycling 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. 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 These textile articles are typically discarded because they are damaged, worn out, or outdated. 85% of post-consumer waste in the United States, however, is found in landfills. to include challenges formalizing the definitions and data that will be required for understanding the future of circularity for the textile waste stream. ==Categories==

Textiles are sorted into categories according to the pyramid model, which organizes textiles by their quality and usability. These category placements determine which processes are used to recycle or reuse the textile. 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. One of the largest producers of shoddy yarn is Panipat in North India, which has over 300 mills. 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. 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. 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. Used clothing markets 48% of textiles are sorted into the used clothing markets category. Western countries export used textiles to developing countries or to disaster relief. In developing nations, used Western textiles are highly valued as they are often more affordable than local textiles. 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. Because textile exportation is a global industry, exporters must be conscious of the varying trade regulations and restrictions in different countries. ==Processing==

Reuse Textile reuse is the preferred processing method because it extends the original product's lifetime. Reuse occurs when textile owners rent, trade, swap, borrow, inherit products through second-hand stores, garage sales, online/flea markets, or charities. Once shredded down, these fibers can be spun to create new fabrics. Once sorted, the textile materials can then be shredded, washed, and separated into smaller fibers. This process is not yet widely implemented, but there are companies that are researching and integrating chemical recycling. From here, the material is polymerized and used to produce textile products. Unlike the mechanical method of recycling, chemical recycling produces high-quality fibers similar to the original fiber used. Therefore, no new fibers are needed to support the product of the chemical process. 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. ==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. This can be done for textiles other than clothing as well. One specific region that is more progressive in applications of recycled textiles is Scandinavia, which has created mainstream market products. In Sweden, companies such as Lindex and H&M are including pre-consumer and post-consumer waste fibers within their new clothing lines. ==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. 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. 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. In July 2021, H&M and Adidas invested in the chemical recycling company Infinite Fiber Company (IFC) which produces a reengineered fiber that is similar to cotton and is biodegradable. Goldman Sachs led an investment in mechanically recycled cotton company Recover Textile Systems in June 2022. 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. 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. When comparing textile reuse to textile recycling, textile reuse is more advantageous. In comparison, textile recycling saves 5.6 tonnes of in terms of GWP and 116 GJ of energy usage. Textile collection systems Textile collection systems play an important role in the recycling process. Used clothing and textile products are often collected through donation bins, charity organizations, municipal programs and specialized recycling companies. Effective collection systems help increase recycling rates and reduce textile waste sent to landfills. ==See also==