The Recycling and waste management sector is relatively new for the textile industry; however, the benefits from Recycling are clear. Several companies have been researching innovative ways to recycle fabrics.
- Clothes can also be made from recycled cotton and wool, but only about 1% of the global supply is recycled. Manufacturers could increase that number significantly with better technologies and consumer education and engagement. Humble’s clothing brand has been working towards this goal, increasing their use of secondhand fabrics over time as they find ways to work within the limits of their production capabilities. They now source pre-used fabric from local thrift shops (Humble x Goodwill Collection) and sell them at affordable prices in conjunction with an eCommerce platform that enables shoppers to purchase responsibly sourced garments.
- In 2016, Adidas partnered with Parley for the Oceans to produce a line of trainers made from recycled ocean waste.
- In another collaboration, Burberry created a trench coat using plastic water bottles collected from China’s rivers and oceans.
- Further initiatives include Unifi sending old denim back into the factory for processing or encouraging consumers to return their used jeans to stores that can then recycle them.
- Most recently, H&M announced it is collaborating with EcoAlfa on a wastewater treatment plant in Italy that will be capable of transforming a million tons of its used clothes into new textiles every year to be 100% recycled by 2020.
- The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) partnered with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to launch a new initiative called “The New Plastics Economy.” The goal is to create a circular economy for fashion in which materials are reused, recycled, and repurposed.
- Several high-end designers, such as Stella McCartney and H&M, have begun using sustainable fabrics like organic cotton and bamboo in their collections.
- Retailers like Zara and Uniqlo have started recycling programs that allow customers to bring in old clothes to be turned into new products.
- Some brands are even experimenting with upcycling or taking discarded materials and turning them into something new and valuable. For example, Dutch designer Anouk Wipprecht creates high-fashion clothing using old car parts.
- Many brands are also trying to reduce their environmental impact in other ways, such as designing products that don’t need to be thrown away after a single use and investing in technology like computerized cutting machines that can cut fabric more efficiently, saving both time and money for manufacturers.
- “The New Plastics Economy” is only one of many initiatives the fashion industry has taken towards reducing its environmental impact through Recycling & sustainability. Other programs include REPREVE (a brand owned by DuPont), turning recycled plastic bottles into new fibers.
- The Sustainable Apparel Coalition’s Higg Index program launched last year, encouraging companies to measure and improve their environmental and social impact.
- The Danish Fashion Institute’s “Circular Economy Program” aims to help Danish fashion brands become more sustainable.
Reference: Original Article by – INDIAN INSTITUTE OF FASHION TECHNOLOGY – Recycling of Fabrics in the Fashion Industry – How to do it & what are its benefits?