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The phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle” came into popular use in the early 1970s and gave us a simple framework to move towards more responsible use of resources. I could write pages (I’ll bet many of you could, too) describing the many ways we can practice the “3 R’s” as individuals, in our families and as global citizens.
In the textile industry, it gets more complicated. Nevertheless, among industry participants—from fiber and textile manufacturers, to end product providers, to brands distributing products worldwide—there is a concerted effort underway to adopt more sustainable practices. The “reduce” part is in some ways the most straightforward. New digital technology at work in sophisticated machinery, and more recently the use of A.I. in operating more efficiently with less waste, is having an impact, at the very least in individual operations. Reusing and repurposing also gets deserved attention, but honestly, the stories in my inbox tend to involve smaller business models.
Then there’s recycling. This is a challenge on any level, but for some makers in the industry, it’s just about impossible. Consider, for example, composite materials designed with highly specialized functionalities, such as those used in construction, military applications, aerospace and other demanding market areas.
But almost any enterprise interested in recycling textiles or textile products faces one major hurdle, and that is distance. The materials to be recycled have to move from a network of operations, producing or collecting the materials, to the facility that will actually recycle them. Two possible solutions involve 1) building more recycling facilities closer to the places generating or collecting the waste product; or 2) devising a better way of recycling textile or fiber-based materials, especially end products produced in overwhelming amounts, such as with fast fashion.
Our new feature, “The sustainability equation,” by Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar discusses economic considerations, including the cost of recycling or repurposing. High-tech advanced textile technologies further complicate the larger sustainability picture, as these materials are often used in critical need environments, such as medical and protection, where compromises in functionality are not an option.
Nevertheless, the search for efficient and cost-effective sustainability solutions is still very much a story, evidenced by the other stories in the newsletter sent out with this blog post and Dr. Ramkumar’s feature article. They’re all about recent recycling efforts that are underway in large part due to partnerships. I can assure you that this publication will continue to be a “partner” in this effort by pursuing the recycling and sustainability story for as long as it takes.
Janet Preus is senior editor of Textile Technology Source. She can be reached at janet.preus@textiles.org.