Textile waste is making a massive impact on our environment, which is why many people are looking at recycling clothing as a way of mitigating the problem. But how can this be done and what can you do yourself?
What is textile recycling?
This is a sustainable way of repurposing unwanted textiles and clothes to make new products. It involves collecting and sorting textile waste and then processing it to reduce environmental impact.
Recycling textiles
This starts with collecting and sorting the clothing, determining what can be resold or repurposed and what needs recycling processes. Clothing in good condition, such as the beautiful sweater you knitted out of the Aran yarn that you bought from>https://www.woolcouturecompany.com/collections/aran-yarn but now no longer fits, can be resold. Some items can be upcycled or transformed into accessories or interior design items, for example.
The textile recycling process
The exact process used for textile recycling will depend on the type of material and the intended future use. Mechanical recycling is a common process, however, which involves shredding the material and then re-spinning the fibres to create new fabrics or yarns.
Chemical recycling is also used to break down materials and then extract quality fibres that can be used again. This process is a common way of dealing with more challenging materials such as blended fabrics.
What can you do?
If you want to do your own version of clothing recycling, there are plenty of things you can do. For example, consider donating unwanted, good-quality items to local shelters or charity shops. You could also sell and buy on preloved websites, reducing the reliance on fast fashion and preventing items from entering the waste chain unnecessarily.
Clothes swaps are also increasingly popular and events are held around the country. There is also the opportunity to donate unwanted fabrics to be recycled in one of the ways mentioned previously.