Textile Recycling Technologies, Colouring and Finishing Methods

University of Leeds 
(UK)
DyeCat Process: catalytic process allowing colour to be integrated 
directly into polyesters (chromophore molecule bonds to fibre)
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University of Nebraska
(USA) 
A fully recyclable reactive dyeing process for cotton, using 40% less 
dye, 97.5% less base, and no inorganic salts
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Textile Recycling Technologies, Colouring and Finishing Methods | Le 
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5.0 ENABLING FACTORS AND TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK 
Several enabling factors relating to process technology and supply chain will aid in stimulating 
development of widespread textile recycling. 
Coordination across the supply chain:
The global reach of various stakeholders in the textiles 
industry makes it an inherently collaborative environment.
-Logistics for collection and transport of materials for recycle or reuse (i.e. collection schemes, 
new business models) can enable a continuous supply of materials to their intended streams.
-Stakeholder buy-in would enable developmental phase technologies to reach commercial scale. 
As an example, provided by Tyton Biosciences:
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“
There are many moving pieces that need to be activated together to catalyze a solution. A 
sanitation system needs to be ready to test or try collecting textiles as a separate stream, a party 
needs to be ready to either re-use or recycle that clothing (where [their technology] fits in), a 
textile supply chain player needs to be ready to accept those recycled materials (perhaps with 
some adjustments on their process) to make those materials back into fibers and yarn, and lastly 
a clothing brand needs to be ready to use and buy the outputs from this process.” 
 
-Information exchange regarding technology developments within the recycling system (from 
collectors, sorters, to recyclers) is imperative to ensure adequate knowledge of inputs and 
potential constraints to their system.
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 This would also enable efficient management of materials 
within the system, i.e. collected and sorted waste is passed onto a mechanical recycler, from 
which materials that may be more valuable through chemical processing can be passed along to 
the chemical recyclers (when technology is available).
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