Addressing Sustainability Challenges in the Fashion Industry

The fashion industry faces substantial challenges in its journey toward sustainability, particularly in textile recycling. With synthetic fibers such as polyester and nylon accounting for over 70% of modern clothing, recycling these materials remains a critical hurdle. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, only 14.7% of textiles were recycled in 2018, amounting to just 2.5 million tons.

Key recycling challenges include mixed fiber blends, contamination, fiber degradation, downcycling, and limited recycling infrastructure. A particularly challenging fiber in the recycling process is spandex (elastane). Although valued for its stretch and flexibility, it remains notoriously difficult to recycle. Textile recycling plants struggle with spandex due to its detection issues, making it hard to identify in mixed textiles.

To address this issue, a customer sought a solution to convert post-industrial garment waste into reusable materials. The answer to this challenge was CirKular+ C1010 at a 5% loading level in a recycled nylon-elastane blend. This solution enabled zero-waste recycling by allowing the complete reuse of post-industrial waste while enhancing material stability to ensure durability and consistency in the final product.

With CirKular+, the textile industry can move closer to a truly circular economy, making sustainable fashion more attainable.