Environmental awareness and social responsibility are becoming increasingly important social values, and so resource conservation is gaining significance in the fashion industry. This can be implemented in various ways. One way is to use what is already there but no longer needed – in the form of recycled fibres. Textile recycling can be used to reduce the environmental impact of the textile industry – or can it? This blog article looks at the advantages, challenges and other interesting facts about textile recycling.
The necessity and problems of recycling clothing fibres
The fashion industry is one of the frontrunners when it comes to the amount of resources required – whether it be the land used to grow cotton, the water consumed for dyeing and other processes, or greenhouse gas emissions. Over five percent of global emissions are attributable to the production of new clothing. What is particularly worrying is that a large number of the garments produced are never worn, or only worn briefly, before being discarded. Millions of tonnes of clothing end up in landfills or incinerators every year. The proportion of clothing that is recycled is still negligible.
Recycling these clothes would help reduce the impact on the environment, right? In principle, yes, but there are various challenges involved. One reason is the lack of separation of different types of clothing, as many recycling technologies require uniformity of synthetic or natural fibres. In addition, the processes and procedures for recycling are struggling to keep up with the vast quantities of discarded clothing. It is not uncommon for them to require chemicals themselves and, for this reason, they are not necessarily environmentally friendly despite the sustainable idea behind them. Dyeing can also be very costly if the recycled fibres have to be decoloured first.
Recycling technologies: How does the clothing recycling process work?
Basically, textile recycling is based on two different processes, both of which require prior sorting and, if necessary, processing – for example, according to wool, cotton or polyester. This is followed by mechanical recycling or depolymerisation.
- Mechanical recycling: This type of recycling accounts for the largest share and processes textile waste further – however, in most cases, it does not result in new garments, but rather cleaning rags, insulation material or similar products. In this process, the clothing is mechanically shredded, for example by being torn apart. Both the energy consumption and the use of chemical additives are generally manageable.
- Depolymerisation: This involves chemically breaking down suitable synthetic fibre types from textile waste. The chemical compounds are then reused for the production of clothing. Depolymerisation is therefore also referred to as chemical recycling. The process helps to obtain recycled fibres that are easy to spin and of high quality, depending on the source material. So far, the process only accounts for a fraction of industrial production.
The basics: What is recycled?
Clothing made from recycled fibres is by no means always based on discarded garments or fabric remnants from surplus stock. The range of possibilities for obtaining recycled fibres is constantly expanding. Recycled trousers, T-Shirts and other items are now also made from broken fishing nets, plastic waste such as old PET bottles, and even plant waste such as orange peels and banana fibres. This optimises the use of waste materials and means that all clothing items can be made from recycled materials.
Recycling and greenwashing
As awareness of sustainability in the fashion industry grows, consumers are increasingly looking for labels that indicate that items are recycled or sustainable. However, special attention is required here, as it is unfortunately often the case that suppliers engage in so-called greenwashing. This means that although they declare their products to be recycled and sustainable, the actual proportion of recycled fibres is very low. Therefore, look for certificates and transparent information about the materials used.
Recycling & sustainability – what needs to be considered?
Even if recycling processes are not yet fully developed, it makes sense to take clothing labels into account and trace the details. In addition, you should look for high-quality clothing from fair production facilities. If you find that you have clothing that is just hanging in your wardrobe, you can possibly give it a new lease of life by selling it second-hand or upcycling it. If you decide to donate your clothes, it is best to sort them first.
There are many ways to act sustainably. Recycling can save resources such as energy and water. It can also reduce the use of chemicals and avoid CO₂ emissions. However, this can only be achieved with sophisticated technology and processing. The brands in the Faedah Collection protect our planet in various ways – for example, through the use of responsible natural fibres or particularly gentle dyeing methods. Discover our selection of sustainable and high-quality clothing!