Clothing & Textiles

Sorting

• The collected textiles are sorted into different categories: reusable, recyclable, or waste.
• Reusable items are often sent to second-hand stores or directly to those in need.
• Recyclable textiles are further sorted based on fiber types (e.g., cotton, polyester, wool).

Reprocessing

• Mechanical Recycling: Old clothes are shredded into new products, such as insulation material, carpeting, or rags.
• Chemical Recycling: This involves breaking down synthetic fibers like polyester into raw materials that can be used to make new garments or textiles.
• Upcycling: This is when old clothing is repurposed into new designs or products without being broken down into fibers, thus preserving the original material’s quality and value.

Environmental Benefits

• Reducing Landfill Waste: Textiles contribute significantly to landfill waste. Recycling reduces the amount of clothing that ends up in these waste sites.
• Saving Resources: Recycling textiles conserves water, energy, and raw materials compared to producing new textiles from raw materials.
• Reducing Carbon Footprint: The fashion industry can reduce the carbon emissions associated with textile production using recycled textiles.