CONTENT
Reutilising products at the end of use is crucial to become circular and can be done by extending the life of a product or recycling it. Although textile recycling is still in its infancy, it is essential to establish a support system that can transform recycling into a financially, technically and logistically lucrative operation. Furthermore, this kind of system can become a feasible way to increase the share of garments made from recycled post-consumer textiles fibres.
PURPOSE
This toolbox functions as a tool to support fashion brands and retailers seeking to increase the share of recycled post-consumer textile fibres in their production. In this toolbox, textile recycling refers only to the recycling of post-consumer garments and footwear into new fibres to be used for future clothing or shoe production.
SUMMARY
Today, many garments are composed of synthetic and natural materials, which means they require different recycling methods. Loosely translated, this makes recycling more complex, and also increasingly difficult.
For instance, chemical recycling entails materials that are chemically processed to produce new filaments that will be later transformed into new yarns and fabrics. Mechanical recycling involves mechanically cutting and shredding fabrics to deconstruct them into reusable fibres and materials.