Research Methodology 1
Fibre Recovery from
Pre- and Post-
Consumer Textiles
Using Mechanical
Methods: A
Sustainable Approach
to Textile Waste
BY Pingili Roshni Reddy
Introduction
The textile industry is a major polluter, generating 92 million tonnes of
waste annually and contributing 6.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions
(Quantis, 2018; Niinimäki et al., 2020). Global fibre production reached
113 million tonnes in 2021 and is expected to grow to 149 million tonnes
by 2030 (Textile Exchange, 2022).
Current Scenario of Apparel Waste
Massive Waste: Every second, a garbage truck of textile waste is discarded.
Landfills & Incineration: Most textiles end up in landfills, taking 6 months to
20 years to decompose.
Collection Gaps: Europe discards 3 million tonnes of textiles yearly due to
inefficient collection (Köhler et al., 2021).
Recycling Challenge: Textiles-to-textiles recycling accounts for just 1% of
global textile production.
Efficient collection, sorting, and recycling are key to reducing waste, conserving
resources, and promoting circular fashion. Fibre recovery is essential for a
sustainable future.
Types of Textile Waste: Pre- and Post-Consumer
Pre-Consumer Waste
Pre-consumer waste refers to textile materials discarded before they reach the
consumer. These waste materials are generated during various stages of textile
and garment production, such as spinning, weaving, dyeing, and garment
cutting.
Post-Consumer Waste
Post-consumer waste consists of textiles discarded after they have been used by
consumers. This waste is generated when garments and home textiles are thrown
away due to damage, fashion trends, or the end of their lifecycle.
Types of Textile Waste: Pre- and Post-Consumer
Mechanical Methods
Fibre recovery from pre- and post-consumer textiles using mechanical methods aimed at
reducing textile waste and promoting circularity in the fashion industry. This process
involves shredding old garments or fabric scraps into fibres without using chemicals,
preserving their basic structure for reuse in new textile products. Mechanical recycling
offers an eco-friendly solution to manage growing textile waste while conserving
resources and reducing environmental impact.
Mechanical Fibre Recovery Process:
Collection & Sorting – Gathering and separating fabric by type and colour.
Processing – Cutting and breaking down fibres.
Reusing – Making new fabric from recycled fibres.
Waste Management – Using or safely disposing of leftover material.
Rag Tearing Machine
Shredding:
The machine tears textiles into smaller pieces or strips.
Fiber Opening:
These pieces are further processed by rotating cylinders with metal teeth that pull
and separate the fabric into loose fibers.
Dust Removal:
The machine often includes a system to remove dust and small impurities from the
fibers.
Output:
The final output is recovered fiber that can be reused in processes like yarn spinning
(for low-grade applications), stuffing, insulation, or nonwoven fabrics.
01 Introduction
02 Literature Review
03 Mechanical methods
04 Present scenario
05 future scope and present limitation
06 conclusion
Introduction:
The textile industry creates a lot of waste and pollution, harming the
environment. Fibre recovery can help reduce this impact. If we don’t act,
pollution and resource shortages will get worse.
Literature Review:
Textile waste is of two types:
Pre-consumer waste – Leftover fabric and scraps from factories.
Post-consumer waste – Old clothes and textiles thrown away after use.
Recycling is not common because of high costs and lack of awareness.
Two main ways to recycle fibres are:
Mechanical recycling – Cutting and reusing fabric.
Chemical recycling – Breaking fibres down to make new material.
Mechanical Fibre Recovery Process:
Collection & Sorting – Gathering and separating fabric by type and colour.
Processing – Cutting and breaking down fibres.
Reusing – Making new fabric from recycled fibres.
Waste Management – Using or safely disposing of leftover material.
Present Scenario:
Pre-consumer recycling – Factories and some government
units recycle fabric waste.
Post-consumer recycling – Brands like H&M, Patagonia,
and Levi’s collect and recycle old clothes.
Future Scope & Challenges:
Challenges: Recycling is expensive, not many people
participate, and some fabrics are hard to recycle.
Future: Better technology, government rules, and
awareness can help increase fibre recovery.
Conclusion:
Fibre recovery helps reduce waste and pollution. If more
companies and people support it, the fashion industry can
become more eco-friendly.
Thank
You
