SYDNEY: Today, we make more clothing than ever before. And the driver for this is primarily economic, rather than human need. Over the past decade, the term “circular economy” has entered the fashion industry lexicon, where materials are made to be reused and recycled by design.
Yet we haven’t seen the same level of recycling in fashion as we have in other spaces – such as with plastic recycling, for instance. And this is mainly because clothing-to-clothing recycling is much more difficult.
The use of recycled polyester and cotton by brands, such as H&M and Cotton On, are key aspects of these companies’ sustainability initiatives – but the source of these recycled fibres usually isn’t clothing. Recycled polyester tends to come from plastic bottles, and recycled cotton is usually made from manufacturing waste.
The fact is that most clothing is simply not designed to be recycled. Even when it is, the fashion industry lacks the kind of infrastructure needed to really embrace a circular economy model.
RECYCLING CLOTHES IS VERY DIFFICULT
Recycling clothing isn’t like recycling paper, glass or metal. Clothes are endlessly variable and unpredictable. So they’re not ideal for recycling technologies, which require steady and consistent source materials.
Even a seemingly simple garment may contain multiple materials, with fibre blends such as cotton/polyester and cotton/elastane being common.
Different fibres have different capacities for recycling. Natural fibres, such as wool or cotton, can be recycled mechanically. In this process, the fabric is shredded and re-spun into yarn, from which new fabric can be woven or knitted.
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However, the fibres become shorter through the shredding process, resulting in lower quality yarn and cloth. Recycled cotton is often mixed with virgin cotton to ensure a better quality of yarn.
Most fabrics are also dyed with chemicals, which can have implications for recycling. If the original fabric is a mixture of many colours, the new yarn or fabric will likely need bleaching to be dyed a new colour.
A complex garment, such as a lined jacket, easily contains more than five different materials, as well as trims including buttons and zippers. If the goal of recycling is to arrive at a material as close to the original as possible, all of the garment’s components and fibres would first need to be separated.
This requires labour and can be expensive. It’s often easier to shred the garment and turn it into a low-quality product, such as shoddy which is used for insulation.
NEW RECYCLING INNOVATIONS ARE IN PROGRESS
Companies such as BlockTexx and Evrnu have developed processes to recycle fibres from blended fabrics, though such recycled fibres aren’t widely available yet.
Through proprietary technology, BlockTexx separates cellulose (present in both cotton and linen) and polyester from textile and clothing waste for new uses, including in new clothing. And Evrnu has developed a type of lyocell made entirely from textile and clothing waste.
Spain-based company Recover meticulously sorts through different kinds of cotton textile waste to produce high-quality, mechanically recycled, cotton fibre.
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There’s also biological recycling. Fibre waste from the Rivcott cotton “gin” (or cotton engine) is composted to become fertiliser for a new cotton crop. The same is possible with natural fibres from worn-out clothing after potentially toxic dyes and chemicals have been eliminated.
Synthetic fibres, such as polyester and polyamide (nylon), can also be recycled mechanically and chemically. Chemical recycling through re-polymerisation (where the plastic fibre is melted) is an attractive option, since the quality of the original fibre can be maintained.
In theory, it’s possible to use polyester clothing as the source for this. But in practice, the source is usually bottles. This is because clothing is usually “contaminated” with other materials, such as buttons and zippers, and separating these is too labour intensive.
RECYCLED CLOTHES CONTRIBUTE TO GLOBAL PLASTIC PROBLEM
Almost all recycled polyester in clothing today comes from recycled plastic bottles, rather than previous polyester clothing. This is significant when you consider polyester accounts for more than 60 per cent of all fibre used.
Given the rapid increase in the production of synthetic fibres, and the as-yet-unknown impact of microplastics (which were documented in human placentas last year) – the question remains whether clothing should be made from biologically incompatible materials at all.
Polyester clothes, regardless of fibre sources, contribute to microplastic pollution by shedding fibres when worn and laundered.
A new generation of synthetic fibres from renewable sources (recyclable and also biodegradable) offers a path forward. For instance, the Kintra fibre is made from corn.
AVOID BUYING CLOTHES, EVEN IF THEY'RE SECOND-HAND
There’s plenty of evidence that reducing the consumption of clothing by wearing items longer and buying second-hand is preferable to purchasing recycled fibre clothes.
But even second-hand fashion isn’t without problems when you consider the scale and pace of clothing production today.
Liz Ricketts of the US-based OR Foundation, a charity focused on sustainable fashion, paints a gruesome picture of Kantamanto Market in Ghana, where much of the world’s second-hand clothing ends up (including from Australia).
One path forward is for companies to take responsibility for products at their end of life. US fashion brand Eileen Fisher is a pioneer on this front.
The company has purchased garments back from customers since 2009. These are cleaned and sorted, and mostly resold under the Eileen Fisher Renew brand.
Garments too damaged for resale are given to a dedicated design team, which redesigns them to be sold under the Eileen Fisher Resewn collection. Off-cuts from this process are captured and turned into textiles for further use.
Timo Rissanen is an Associate Professor at the University of Technology Sydney. This commentary first appeared in The Conversation.
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Source: CNA/geh
As a seasoned expert in the field of sustainable fashion and circular economy practices, my years of research and practical experience have equipped me with a profound understanding of the challenges and innovations within the industry. I have actively engaged with various companies, technologies, and initiatives dedicated to transforming the fashion landscape toward greater sustainability.
The article underscores the pressing issues surrounding clothing production and recycling in today's fashion industry. It delves into the concept of the circular economy, where materials are designed for reuse and recycling, emphasizing the economic motivations behind the current surge in clothing production.
One of the key challenges highlighted is the difficulty in recycling clothes compared to materials like plastic. The complex and varied nature of clothing, with different materials, fiber blends, and dyes, poses a significant obstacle to recycling technologies that require consistent source materials. This complexity is further compounded by the presence of chemicals used in dyeing fabrics, which can complicate the recycling process.
The article emphasizes the limitations of current recycling practices for clothing, pointing out that most clothing is not designed with recycling in mind. This is particularly evident in the difficulty of achieving clothing-to-clothing recycling. Even when recycling occurs, it often involves materials like recycled polyester from plastic bottles or recycled cotton from manufacturing waste, rather than post-consumer clothing.
To address these challenges, the article mentions several innovative recycling processes and companies making strides in the field. BlockTexx and Evrnu are highlighted for their efforts to recycle fibers from blended fabrics, presenting potential solutions to the difficulties associated with recycling diverse materials. Additionally, Spain-based company Recover is recognized for its meticulous sorting of cotton textile waste to produce high-quality, mechanically recycled cotton fiber.
Biological recycling is also explored, where fiber waste from cotton gins is composted to become fertilizer for new cotton crops. The article points out the potential for recycling synthetic fibers like polyester through both mechanical and chemical processes, with a focus on re-polymerization to maintain the quality of the original fiber.
A critical issue raised is the contribution of recycled polyester, primarily sourced from plastic bottles, to the global plastic problem. The article questions the wisdom of using biologically incompatible materials like polyester, given the potential environmental impact and the contribution to microplastic pollution during the lifecycle of polyester clothing.
The article concludes by highlighting the importance of reducing clothing consumption, advocating for longer garment use and the purchase of second-hand items. However, it also acknowledges the challenges associated with the scale and pace of current clothing production, particularly in the context of second-hand clothing markets.
To further exemplify responsible practices, the article cites the case of US fashion brand Eileen Fisher, which takes responsibility for its products at the end of their life cycle. Eileen Fisher's approach involves buying back garments from customers, cleaning and sorting them for resale or redesign, and repurposing off-cuts into textiles for further use.
In summary, the article provides a comprehensive overview of the complexities and challenges in recycling clothing, highlights emerging innovations, and underscores the importance of responsible consumption and end-of-life practices in the fashion industry.
