The average lifetime of a garmentis estimated to be for a period of three years. After the time period, they arethrown away as old clothes. Even useful garments are discarded as they are nolonger fashionable, or desirable. A report states that more than one milliontones of textiles are condemned every year. Huge quantities of old clothing endup in the landfill instead of being recycled and reused. Of the house holdgarbage, textiles make about 3 percent by weight. Textile wastes also ariseduring the process of yarn and fabric manufacture, garment making, etc. Theyare called as post industrial wastes. All this thrown clothing has a potentialfor recycling and reuse. 80 percent of the textiles that are thrown away can berecycled and used again, whereas, currently only 25 percent is being recycled. Lessthan 5 percent of all the garments that is thrown in the bin actually end up aswaste.
RecyclingProcess:
All clothing has a usefulsecond life. The collected garments are sorted and graded as natural, syntheticand blended fabrics. Good quality clothing is sent to charity institutions andis used as second hand clothing. Unwearable textiles are considered as damagedtextiles, and are processed in the factory as rags. Rags are collected and sentto the wiping and flocking industry. Other materials will be sent for fibrereclamation and stuffing. Fibres from the old fabrics are reclaimed and areused for making new garments. Threads from the fabric is pulled out and usedfor re-weaving new garments or blankets. Both natural and synthetic fibres canbe recycled this way. Incoming textiles are graded into type and color. Initiallythe material is shredded into fibres called shoddy. Later based on the enduse, other fibres are blended with shoddy. The blended mixture is carded, andspun for weaving or knitting.
The garment is shredded forfillers in car insulation, roofing felts, loudspeaker cones, furniture padding,panel linings and many other uses. Woolen garments are sent to other firms thatmake fibre reclamation to make yarn and fabric. Cotton clothes are recycled andused for paper manufacture, automotive, and mining industries and various otheruses. Some old clothes are being reused in a creative way by fashion designersto make fashionable garments and bags. Fibres made from recycled PET plasticbottles are used in the active sportswear market.
Advantagesof recycling:
Percentageusage of discarded textiles
Textile recycling helps in theprotection of environment as well. Recycled clothes reduce the landfill space. Landfillsites pose a threat to the environment and water supplies. When it rains, waterdrains through the discarded clothes and picks up hazardous chemicals andbleaches. This water turns out to be toxic. Textile made from synthetic fibreswill not decompose quickly whereas fabrics like wool releases methane, duringdecomposition and both fibres ultimately cause global warming. When thesefabrics are recycled, this hazard will be reduced to a considerable extent. Itsaves on consumption of energy, as recycled clothes need not be re-dyed orsourced. Reduced usage of dyes and chemicals minimizes their manufacture andultimately the adverse effects of their manufacture. Of all the old clothing,70 % is used as second hand clothing, 6 % is waste bags and zips, 8 % is usedfor reclaiming fibres and making recycled products, 7 % is used as wipingmaterial and the remaining 9 % is shredded and used as stuffing. It is asurprising fact that over 70 percent of the worlds population uses second handclothing. Raw materials acquired out of recycled fabrics cost less; making itan attractive feature for manufacturers.
Customizing own and old clothes:
It is an amazing fact to know, that clothes that are considered as useless can be creatively used to make something new.
- Old clothes can be reused for making cushions, handbags, quilts etc.
- Damaged clothing can be used as rags and dusters.
- Bright colored fabrics can be used for borders in a lampshade.
- Head and wrist bands can be made with fabrics with electrifying colors.
- Old garments can be transformed into works of art; like sewing patches, buttons and beads into old garments, ironing graphics, etc.
From the early age of industrial revolution, textile industry is being identified as a major polluter of rivers. Attempts to minimize wastage are now on focus due to increased environmental awareness. Currently, there is an increasing awareness among people regarding waste collection and recycling. Developing a potential market for recycled textiles by buying such recycled products will reduce the wastage going to landfill.
References:
2) http://www.textile-recycling.org.uk
3) http://www.wasteonline.org.uk
To read more articles on Textile, Industry, Technical Textile, Dyes & Chemicals, Machinery, Fashion, Apparel, Technology, Retail, Leather, Footwear & Jewellery, Software and General please visit https://articles.fibre2fashion.com
To promote your company, product and services via promotional article, follow
this link: https://www.fibre2fashion.com/services/article-writing-service/content-promotion-services.asp
Comments