Eco-innovative approaches for recycling non-polyester/cotton blended textiles
Blended textile waste constitutes a substantial portion of the global textile waste stream, making recycling essential for minimizing the industry’s environmental impact. Although polyester/cotton recycling is well developed, many other blended textiles are routinely landfilled owing to a lack of ef...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Waste Management Bulletin |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949750725000136 |
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| author | Chandra Manivannan Arun Logeshwaran Panneerselvan Gunasekhar Nachimuthu Meredith Conaty Thava Palanisami |
| author_facet | Chandra Manivannan Arun Logeshwaran Panneerselvan Gunasekhar Nachimuthu Meredith Conaty Thava Palanisami |
| author_sort | Chandra Manivannan Arun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Blended textile waste constitutes a substantial portion of the global textile waste stream, making recycling essential for minimizing the industry’s environmental impact. Although polyester/cotton recycling is well developed, many other blended textiles are routinely landfilled owing to a lack of effective recycling technologies. This review critically assesses existing strategies for recycling non-polyester/cotton blends, highlighting the key challenges and opportunities for innovation. In the sorting stage, integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) enhances efficiency and accuracy. Advanced methods, such as green chemistry, mechanical recycling, and enzymatic treatments, have proven effective for most blended textiles; however, fibers, such as polypropylene, still lack defined closed-loop recycling routes. Life cycle assessment (LCA) indicates that recycling textile waste can reduce environmental impacts by 60%, but the absence of comprehensive LCA studies on diverse recycling approaches limits reliability. Furthermore, while textile recycling is sustainable, concerns regarding the emission of hazardous additives and organic pollutants pose ecological and health risks. Therefore, advanced recycling technologies for non-polyester/cotton blends are crucial for achieving sustainability. Future research should focus on developing efficient recycling methods for complex blends, addressing the environmental impact of hazardous substances, and standardizing LCA methodologies to ensure economic and environmental viability. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-89f9dfb471944f40b10ad04ce5ce1cf8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2949-7507 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Waste Management Bulletin |
| spelling | doaj-art-89f9dfb471944f40b10ad04ce5ce1cf82025-02-08T05:01:48ZengElsevierWaste Management Bulletin2949-75072025-04-0131255270Eco-innovative approaches for recycling non-polyester/cotton blended textilesChandra Manivannan Arun0Logeshwaran Panneerselvan1Gunasekhar Nachimuthu2Meredith Conaty3Thava Palanisami4Environmental Plastic Innovation Cluster (EPIC), Global Innovative Centre for Advanced Nanomaterials (GICAN), College of Engineering, Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle, New South Wales, AustraliaEnvironmental Plastic Innovation Cluster (EPIC), Global Innovative Centre for Advanced Nanomaterials (GICAN), College of Engineering, Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle, New South Wales, AustraliaNSW Department of Primary Industries, Australian Cotton Research Institute, Narrabri, AustraliaCotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC), Narrabri, New South Wales, AustraliaEnvironmental Plastic Innovation Cluster (EPIC), Global Innovative Centre for Advanced Nanomaterials (GICAN), College of Engineering, Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia; Corresponding author.Blended textile waste constitutes a substantial portion of the global textile waste stream, making recycling essential for minimizing the industry’s environmental impact. Although polyester/cotton recycling is well developed, many other blended textiles are routinely landfilled owing to a lack of effective recycling technologies. This review critically assesses existing strategies for recycling non-polyester/cotton blends, highlighting the key challenges and opportunities for innovation. In the sorting stage, integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) enhances efficiency and accuracy. Advanced methods, such as green chemistry, mechanical recycling, and enzymatic treatments, have proven effective for most blended textiles; however, fibers, such as polypropylene, still lack defined closed-loop recycling routes. Life cycle assessment (LCA) indicates that recycling textile waste can reduce environmental impacts by 60%, but the absence of comprehensive LCA studies on diverse recycling approaches limits reliability. Furthermore, while textile recycling is sustainable, concerns regarding the emission of hazardous additives and organic pollutants pose ecological and health risks. Therefore, advanced recycling technologies for non-polyester/cotton blends are crucial for achieving sustainability. Future research should focus on developing efficient recycling methods for complex blends, addressing the environmental impact of hazardous substances, and standardizing LCA methodologies to ensure economic and environmental viability.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949750725000136Textile recyclingNon-polyester/cotton blendsWaste managementGreen chemistryLife cycle assessmentEco-innovation |
| spellingShingle | Chandra Manivannan Arun Logeshwaran Panneerselvan Gunasekhar Nachimuthu Meredith Conaty Thava Palanisami Eco-innovative approaches for recycling non-polyester/cotton blended textiles Waste Management Bulletin Textile recycling Non-polyester/cotton blends Waste management Green chemistry Life cycle assessment Eco-innovation |
| title | Eco-innovative approaches for recycling non-polyester/cotton blended textiles |
| title_full | Eco-innovative approaches for recycling non-polyester/cotton blended textiles |
| title_fullStr | Eco-innovative approaches for recycling non-polyester/cotton blended textiles |
| title_full_unstemmed | Eco-innovative approaches for recycling non-polyester/cotton blended textiles |
| title_short | Eco-innovative approaches for recycling non-polyester/cotton blended textiles |
| title_sort | eco innovative approaches for recycling non polyester cotton blended textiles |
| topic | Textile recycling Non-polyester/cotton blends Waste management Green chemistry Life cycle assessment Eco-innovation |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949750725000136 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chandramanivannanarun ecoinnovativeapproachesforrecyclingnonpolyestercottonblendedtextiles AT logeshwaranpanneerselvan ecoinnovativeapproachesforrecyclingnonpolyestercottonblendedtextiles AT gunasekharnachimuthu ecoinnovativeapproachesforrecyclingnonpolyestercottonblendedtextiles AT meredithconaty ecoinnovativeapproachesforrecyclingnonpolyestercottonblendedtextiles AT thavapalanisami ecoinnovativeapproachesforrecyclingnonpolyestercottonblendedtextiles |