Partnerships among brands, government, and/or
academia could help facilitate technology and infrastructure development.
Increased awareness among industry and consumers: Most everyday consumers are unaware
that their clothing is the world’s second largest polluter.
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With the flexibility of supply chains
within the textiles and apparel industry, and continuous induction of trends among consumer
groups, many opportunities are available to stimulate and apply sustainable practices and
solutions. This extends into design of high-quality and durable garments, fundamental change in
habits of consumers, or initiatives for collection and sorting or repurposing textile waste.
Based on the enabling factors identified, outlook of the expansion and development of existing
and promising new recycling technologies explored in this report are summarized:
•
Increased adoption of mechanical recycling and textile waste diversion for fibre-to-fibre,
and other end-use applications to serve other industries (flocking and nonwovens), and
implementation or organization of operations where geographically feasible.
Short-term •
Development of automated sorting technologies and systems.
Short to Medium term. •
Expansion and improvement of polyester recycling operations, owing to its large share in
global fibre production and consumption in textiles.
Short to Long-term •
Continued support in the development of fibre-to-fibre cotton, cellulosic, and polycotton
blend recycling technologies
Short to Medium-term •
Development of separation and recycling of fibres blends, or processes that can incorporate
blends i.e. nylon/elastane, cotton/elastane etc.
Medium to Long-term •
Evaluation of how hazardous chemicals can be eliminated in textile processing operations,
and where emerging methods or materials can be scaled up and implemented (enzymes, bio-
based precursors etc.).
