We can’t deny but calling a spade a spade that textile waste is a matter of great concern globally. Especially when it comes to the topic of fast fashion, then it cuts a sorry figure as it keeps a negative impact on the environment by consuming enormous amounts of water & energy. But we can bid fair if the recycling process & circular economy is introduced.

What is Circular Economy:

It’s a strategy of producing & consuming materials & components which introduces recycling process & reduction of waste. Minimizing maximum waste & pollution by ensuring maximum efficiency of resources is the main goal of the circular economy.

Figure : Strategy of Circular Economy

• Textile Recycling:

A dynamic process which includes recovery of old clothing & other textiles for reusing or to recover materials is called textile recycling. It is a matter of glad that some companies are bringing upcycling practice into their habit.

• Socio-Economic Advantage of Textile Recycling:

Textile recycling not only ensures environmental & ecological advantages but also it brings socio-economic impacts vastly.

• Product diversification can be introduced where some recycled fibres such as cotton, wool and cashmere, collected from both pre and post-consumer waste.
• Energy efficiency can be increased.
• This green procurement trend is appealing to the health sector too.

• Struggles of Textile Recycling:

Very few countries are able to utilize 50% or more of their potential recyclable materials. Also the survey says, only 5% waste can be recycled in many regions. Some other struggles are:

• Fibre Blends Hinder Separation of recyclable materials:

The sorting process for recycling becomes difficult when fibers are blended.

• Lack in Technological Knowledge:

Technologies are not that much updated so that textile wastes can be sorted accurately. Chemical & mechanical textile recycling technologies are also limited.

• Structure of Textile Material:

Textile materials containing different types of chemicals & dyes often rein the process of recycling.

• Lack of proper standardization:

There is no proper coordination & integration of increasing efficiency of the textile recycling ecosystem. Which is affecting the industry negatively.

• Limited Public Participation & Awareness:

Knowledge barrier and attitude barrier of general people is a great obstacle in case of textile recycling. It is true that all the policies and standardizations will be trivariant if the public is not awarded!

• Some Pros & Cons of Circular economy:

Pros:

• It is sustainable enough,
• Using of toxic chemicals is eliminated in circular economy,
• Less pollution can be ensured,
• Products’ life span is promoted,
• Economic Process.

Cons:

• 100% circular economy may not possible to achieve,
• All the products are not suitable to bring into circular economical process,
• Small industries may fail to introduce this process for not having technological knowledge.

Future of Circular economy:

Circular economy is the finest option through which take-make-waste i.e linear economy is mortified. It involves new design strategies which push consumers to use a product for a long time. It is basically the hero of a mighty environment which will save it from the cursed textile pollution by involving recycling & by reducing waste.

 

Nashita Ahmed

Department of Environmental Science and Engineering,

Bangladesh University of Textiles (BUTEX)

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