Textile and Apparel Science

Can Biodegradable Textiles Lead Us to a Hopeful Path of a Sustainable Textile Industry? - A Review.

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Abstract

Excessive consumption of textile and apparel goods has led to an increase in the accumulation of post-consumer textile waste (PCTW). The complex separation process in blended textiles; low-quality products; higher recycling costs compared to virgin materials; high volume of waste generation; collection, sorting, and transportation costs involved are some of the issues related to textile waste recycling. According to a recently published report by the US EPA, >18 million tons of textile waste is generated in the US alone. Out of which, only <3 million tons is recycled and the remaining end of in landfills, where it is left to decompose and degrade. In this paper, we discuss the fate-and-transport phenomenon of these textile waste contaminants, the biodegradation mechanism, factors affecting rate of biodegradation, barriers/challenges, and strategies to reduce textile waste. 

Keywords: post-consumer textile waste, biodegradable textiles, biodegradable polymers, fashion sustainability.

How to Cite:

Mehta, S. & McCay, J., (2024) “Can Biodegradable Textiles Lead Us to a Hopeful Path of a Sustainable Textile Industry? - A Review.”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 80(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.17069