Recycling of textiles

Better ecology Well-tolerated by the skin, no problems with waste water, air pollution, recycling of textiles... 

Open- and closed-loop recycling of textile and apparel products... 

OLR has proved feasible in the fashion context, both in collection of pre- and postconsumer textile waste for use in other products, and in collection of used bottles for recycling into textiles. Garments are suitable as a feedstock for products of lesser value, for example carpet underlay or insulation, with many applications possible. However, the varieties of fibre types and colours mean that the resulting shoddy is in unattractive greys or blacks that are unsuitable for spinning into apparel-quality yam. The wide variety of products that utilise pre-consumer textile waste and even post-consumer textile waste demonstrates that the recycling of textiles works when entering product streams of lesser value. 

Watson, D., Kiprboe, N., Palm, D., Tekie, H., Harris, S., Ekvall, T., Lindhqvist, T., Lyng, K.-A., 2014. EPR Systems and New Business Models — Reuse and Recycling of Textiles in the Nordic Region. TemaNord 2014 539. 

Although many consumers have developed home recycling practices, few if any consider the recyclability of used apparel except in terms of donation to charity organizations. Even though this is a viable disposal choice for many usable garments, there remains a limited response to the recycling of textile products (US Environmental Protection Agency, 1997). 

Watzl A. (1992), Recycling of Textile Waste into Nonwovens Products , Melliand Textilberichte, 397, 73. 

It is recognized that the recycling of textiles is an important factor and the introduction of electronics will present some challenges. Kohler and Som (2013) have pointed out that electronic textiles may result in adverse side effects during the life cycle of products. Conversely, the introduction of radio frequency identification devices into textile structures would aid identification of constituent fibre types and, after removal, lead to more accurate and efficient recycling procedures. 

Kwon, H. Negulescu, 1.1. Collier, B.J. Complete Recycling of Textile Components from Cotton/Polyester Fabrics. Book of Papers 1996 International Conference Exhibition, September 15-18, Opryland Hotel, Nashville, Tenn. 480-488. 

In Germany and Europe, the reuse of textile resources has a long history, both in the industrial and in the private sector. The reason for reuse of textiles always was a lack of resources, especially of natural material. At the end of the 19th century, textiles were recycled as raw material for the upholstery of coaches. In Prato near Florence, Italy, recycling of textiles has been a major industry for the last 800 years. 

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