CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND RECYCLING IN THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY

Abstract

The paper analyses the transition from a linear economy paradigm to a circular economy model in the textile industry, which is one of the most polluting industries in the world. The linear model involves a large consumption of raw materials and generates waste, while the circular economy model focuses on the regeneration of raw materials and recycling. This includes the 5 R's of textile waste management: rethink, reduce, reuse, recycle, and reintroduce. The circular economy is characterized by close cycles, in which waste is minimized or converted into valuable inputs. Textile recycling process can be mechanical, thermal, chemical and biological. A series of recycling methods for different fiber-based materials: cotton, wool, synthetic, which are proposed in scientific papers is presented, contributing to the promotion of a zero-waste world.

Keywords

• sustainability
• sorting
• textile waste