Year after year, we hear more and more about recycling waste. Currently, there's a lot of talk about plastic, glass, and paper. We forget that there's an industry in the world that's responsible for a huge percentage of pollution. I'm talking, of course, about the textile industry. Fashion brands are creating huge quantities of new clothes at a dizzying pace, which quickly go out of style and end up in the trash. What if we could reuse them? It turns out there are ways to do it! And while many of us have probably only heard about recycling polyester (that's definitely a topic for a separate article), it turns out that another material can also be recycled: cotton!
Cotton recycling - what is it?
Broadly speaking, it's the transformation of cotton material into cotton fiber, which can then be reused in textile products . This typically takes place in a lengthy process that begins with color selection. After this sorting, the materials are sent to a special machine that grinds them into yarn, and then into raw fiber. To reuse the fiber, it is processed back into yarn, which can then be used in completely new products.
What cotton is recyclable?
We can recycle two types of cotton waste:
- Pre-consumer - i.e. scraps that were created during the weaving and knitting of materials
- Post-consumer - covers products that have already been produced, such as clothing, towels or bed linen
Pre-consumer cotton waste is the most recycled. This is primarily due to its ease of segregation and shredding in machines. Recycling cotton from post-consumer sources is somewhat more complex and time-consuming.
Recycled cotton reviews
Opinions on cotton recycling may be divided. However, despite some challenges, the process offers a number of advantages worth mentioning.
By reusing existing materials, cotton recycling uses significantly less energy, water, and dye. This has a positive impact on the environment by reducing carbon dioxide pollution and reducing the amount of waste that would otherwise need to be disposed of.
The quality of recycled fiber is lower than that of virgin fiber, so it must be reinforced with other fibers. This allows for durability and reuse in production.
The most controversial aspect of recycled materials is their price. Cotton is no exception – the cost of recycled yarn is significantly higher than that of virgin yarn.
Recycled material
Increasing the popularity of recycled cotton could have a positive impact on the environment by reducing the need for conventional cotton cultivation, which uses vast amounts of water. This is a very positive solution, especially for reducing textile waste.
It's worth remembering to make responsible choices when shopping – ensuring the quality of the products you buy and caring for them properly can help extend their lifespan by up to several years . When cleaning out your closet, it's worth considering whether the clothes you no longer need might be useful to someone else . By donating our unworn items, we have a real chance to reduce the need to produce additional clothes.
At ANSIN, we've taken an additional step to incorporate recycled cotton into our production. For the fall/winter 2022 season, we're introducing a sweater made from 50% recycled cotton. We want to give this solution a try and see how it pans out among our customers.
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Bibliography:
https://www.cottonworks.com/en/topics/sustainability/cotton-sustainability/recycled-cotton/
