Author: Sahar Safarianbana (IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute) - The increasing volume of textile waste presents a significant environmental challenge, with conventional textile production responsible for nearly 5% of global CO2 emission and 20% of global clean water pollution due to dyeing and finishing processes. A substantial portion of textile waste is incinerated or landfilled, leading to harmful chemical emissions into air, soil, and water. To mitigate these environmental impacts, sustainable textile recycling is essential. However, conventional recycling faces challenges, particularly due to the presence of dyes. Mechanical recycling struggles with secondary pollutants, while chemical recycling requires intensive bleaching steps, increasing chemical and energy consumption.
