One of the biggest ways to reduce apparel’s environmental footprint is by diverting textile waste from landfills and incineration. In one example of the impact of circularity, mechanically recycled polyester creates 70 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than polyester made of virgin materials.
With the goal of closing the loop, the Accelerating Circularity consortium is bringing together players in the industry to uncover the potential of textile-to-textile recycling. A new report from the group explores what it will take to develop circular supply chains.
Accelerating Circularity’s research is centered on the East Coast of the United States, covering 20 states and 26 metro areas. It also focuses on polyester, cotton and manmade cellulosic fibers, which together make up 81 percent of the textile market. Within this study region, 5.2 million tons of clothing, linen and household textiles are either put into landfills or incinerated each year. In addition, 90,000 tons of textile waste is generated from mills and other industrial sources.
Read more on Carved in Blue.
This article is one of a series on Rivet from Lenzing’s Carved in Blue denim blog. From conversations with the experts behind the mills that make some of the world’s most-wanted denim to the global brands bringing novel denim made with TENCEL™ Lyocell and Modal to the market, Carved in Blue shares the stories of those whose roots run deep with denim. Visit www.carvedinblue.tencel.com.
