Fibre to fibre full circularity in the textile sector through novel polyester recycling technologies

Introduction

The current system of textile production, distribution, and use operates in an almost entirely linear fashion. This, coupled with the concept of fast fashion, has led to significant problems of textile waste generation and accumulation in landfill or incineration.

Environmental Impact

In 2020, the global textile industry consumed approximately:

• 93 billion m³ of water
• 1.7 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions
• Released around 1 million tonnes of microfibres into the oceans
• Was responsible for 92 million tonnes of waste

This waste represents between 3% and 10% of the EU's environmental impact.

Synthetic Fibres

It is crucial to emphasize that synthetic fibres currently account for 64% of the global fibre production. Notably, polyester holds the lion's share of the market at 54%.

Recycling Challenges

Despite the recycling technologies presently available across Europe, it's essential to highlight that:

1. Less than fifty percent of discarded clothing is collected for potential reuse or recycling once it's no longer required.
2. Astonishingly, a mere 1% undergoes recycling processes to be transformed into new clothing.

An increasing number of brands are transitioning to recycled versions of synthetic fibres, mainly polyester. The typical recycled alternative for virgin synthetic polyester fibres is polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, the most widely used type of plastic bottles, produced in vast quantities each year.

Circular Economy Initiative

To truly establish circular economies in the textile industry, there is a growing imperative to convert textile waste back into new textiles.

LIFE POLITEX

LIFE POLITEX represents a pioneering effort, as it aims to become the first industrial pilot plant of comprehensive fibre-to-fibre recycling technology. This initiative seeks to demonstrate the complete closed circularity of polyester within the textile sector, all within a single industrial process that transforms processed textile waste into new polyester fibres.