Press Release: Urgent Need for Advancements in Textile Recycling as Millions of Tons Are Wasted Annually
The alarming reality of clothing waste has been highlighted by recent reports, revealing that the average American disposes of approximately 82 pounds of clothing each year. This contributes to a staggering global textile waste of 92 million tons, as noted by Earth.org. Despite hopes that recycling systems can handle this crisis, significant gaps in technology and funding hinder effective textile recycling.
Currently, only 1% of textile waste in Europe is transformed into new fibers, according to the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Without substantial investments in innovative technologies, like those developed by CETIA, which can efficiently separate fibers and components, only a fraction of textiles—up to 70%—could be recycled. Much of the untreated clothing in Europe and the U.S. is shipped to Asian and African countries, where limited recycling capabilities exacerbate pollution of beaches and waterways with textile waste.
Presently, most recycling technologies reduce materials to lower-quality versions used in products like carpets and auto-wiping cloths. More advanced "chemical recycling" methods show promise for preserving quality but remain prohibitively expensive for widespread use.
Fast fashion exacerbates this issue, with garments made to last only 7 to 10 wears. The EU aims for all clothing sold by 2030 to consist largely of recycled fibers. Consumer actions, such as buying secondhand items—saving an average of $1,760 annually—can mitigate waste levels significantly.
In an effort to tackle this crisis, companies are launching recycling and resale initiatives. Consumers are encouraged to participate in these programs, helping to reduce textile waste and its damaging impact on the environment.
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