Closed-loop Mechanical Recycling Opportunities in Industrial Cotton Wastes

Abstract

Reusing industrial wastes in textile production is essential to reduce the total environmental burden of textile products. This study proved that the wastes generated in the ring-spinning process of a lightweight cotton shirting-producing company could be turned into fabrics used in shirts, jackets, and trousers. A total of 21 different yarns in four different counts containing 5-100% waste were produced in OE-rotor and ring spinning lines. These yarns were used to produce 12 different fabrics. Some of the produced yarns and fabrics met the criteria required for the lightweight fabrics. Others, specifically yarns and fabrics produced from short fiber wastes, exhibited suitable properties for the medium and coarse yarn count segment. According to the gate-to-gate LCA analysis, virgin cotton yarn and 100% cotton waste-contained yarn had similar environmental impacts in terms of OE-rotor spinning process.