Developments in textiles and apparel recycling, November 2023
Environmental sustainability is of growing importance within the global fibre, textile and apparel industry, and pressures on companies to improve their sustainability credentials have prompted several of them to investigate the potential of recycled materials in the development of innovative new products. For other companies, a major focus is the development of recycling technologies and methods for converting textile waste into raw materials. This report provides information on the latest developments in textiles and apparel recycling in relation to: innovations in products made using recycled materials; innovations in products which can be recycled easily at the ends of their useful lives; joint ventures; legislation; manufacturing processes which employ recycled materials; recycling initiatives; recycling methods; and recycling technologies. Furthermore, the report includes information and insight relating to the following innovative brands, companies and other organisations: Archroma; Aquafil; BekaertDeslee; Camira; Circular Polymers by Ascend; Fashion for Good; Freudenberg Performance Materials; Infinited Fiber Company; Lenzing Group (Lenzing); lululemon athletica (lululemon); Pangaia; Primaloft; RadiciGroup; Recover; Renewcell; Resortecs; Rieter; Samsara Eco; SOEX; Spinnova; Teijin Frontier; Toray Industries (Toray); Trützschler Group; Valérius 360; and Zellerfeld.- SUMMARY
- INNOVATIONS IN PRODUCTS WHICH ARE MADE USING RECYCLED MATERIALS
- Archroma has developed a range of environmentally sustainable dyes called FiberColors which are made using materials derived from textile waste
- Camira has developed a range of heavy duty fabrics which are made using materials derived from textile waste
- Circular Polymers by Ascend has launched a range of materials derived from post-consumer carpets
- Freudenberg Performance Materials has developed a nonwoven interlining made using 100% recycled thermoplastic elastomer
- PrimaLoft has developed a high performance insulation material which is made using recycled waste plastic recovered from coastlines
- RadiciGroup has led a research and design project which has resulted in the development of a cycling T-shirt made using fibre-to-fibre recycled polyester
- Toray Industries (Toray) will rebrand its &+ polyester fibre, which is made using polymer derived from recycled plastic waste
- Valérius 360 and Trützschler Group have collaborated in the development of a yarn made using recycled cotton derived from textile waste
- INNOVATIONS IN PRODUCTS WHICH CAN BE RECYCLED EASILY AT THE ENDS OF THEIR USEFUL LIVES
- BekaertDeslee and Resortecs will collaborate in the development of a mattress cover which can be recycled easily at the end of its useful life
- Nylon specialist Aquafil has developed a closed-loop process for manufacturing carpet
- Pangaia has collaborated with footwear manufacturer Zellerfeld in the development of a sneaker which can be recycled easily at the end of its useful life
- JOINT VENTURES
- Infinited Fiber Company and SOEX have entered into a partnership agreement relating to the supply of textile waste
- lululemon athletica (lululemon) and Samsara Eco have entered into a partnership agreement to scale circularity through textile-to-textile recycling
- Recover and Rieter have entered into a joint venture agreement to develop a portfolio of fibre blends which will be made using materials derived from textile waste
- LEGISLATION
- The European Commission has proposed the introduction of mandatory extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes for textiles in the EU
- Developments in textiles and apparel recycling
- MATERIALS
- Fashion for Good has launched a pilot operation which aims to increase the use of recycled materials in footwear manufacture
- RECYCLING INITIATIVES
- Fashion for Good has launched the Sorting for Circularity Project in the USA
- Lenzing Group has collaborated with a consortium of organisations in the launch of a pilot project for recycling textile waste
- RECYCLING METHODS
- Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a method of recycling which is capable of removing cotton from fabric containing blends of cotton and polyester
- Teijin Frontier has developed a method of chemical recycling which is capable of removing elastane (spandex) from apparel waste containing blends of elastane and polyester
- RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES
- Spinnova has collaborated with Renewcell in the development of a technology for converting textile waste into fibres
- List of figures
- Figure 1: Revolution fabrics
- Figure 2: XE Series interlining
- Figure 3: Direct spinning process
- Figure 4: Passage draw frame process
- Figure 5: R2R logo
- Figure 6: Components of a shoe
- Figure 7: Absolute Sneaker
- Figure 8: Prototype yarn
- Figure 9: Chemical recycling method
- Figure 10: Prototype fabric
Research Assistance
Download our eBook: How to Succeed Using Market Research
Learn how to effectively navigate the market research process to help guide your organization on the journey to success.
Download eBook