ABOUT RECYCLING

Recycling is the last step in the circular economy model, therefore it’s a solution concerning clothing that has been resold, redesigned and used to its very last.

Recycling can take place in three ways: mechanical, thermal, or chemical. Today, the most common method is mechanical recycling, as it has been around the longest and has been historically used, especially during periods of fiber shortages or economic challenges. Mechanical recycling is carried out on a large scale, where textiles are often downcycled into products like insulation materials or other non-woven products, and to a lesser extent into fibers. Mechanical recycling has relatively few limitations in terms of materials or mixed textiles, but the quality of the recycled product can be lower. However, the energy consumption in mechanical recycling is lower than in other methods.

Only a few companies worldwide currently have the capacity to recycle textiles chemically on a commercial scale, while many others are in the process of developing these processes, though primarily still at the laboratory level. Chemical recycling is a process where materials are broken down into their basic components, such as monomers, oligomers, and polymers, and then rebuilt. Today, it is possible to recycle blends of cotton and polyester, over 95% cotton, regenerated cellulose, nylon 6, and 100% polyester through chemical processes.

The quality of the final product, such as yarn or fabric, depends on the quality of the input materials, which can come from either pre-consumer or post-consumer waste, and it is important to avoid contaminants in the input materials, such as dyes and prints. Generally, chemically recycled fibers have a higher quality and can be recycled multiple times, although there is still insufficient research to determine how many times this is possible. The challenge with chemical recycling lies in its current costs and the need for clean or not overly mixed textiles.