Textile recycling and recovery: An eco-friendly perspective on textile and garment industries challenges

The world has been facing a growing crisis in textile waste due to global population growth and improved living conditions, combined with a decrease in the life cycles of textile products. Textile recycling is one of the key aspects for reducing the massive waste problem generated by the fashion and textile industries. Despite the need to develop textile waste recycling industries, acceptable practical interim measures still need to be taken. Textile waste can affect people’s lives economically and environmentally. Producing apparel from natural or synthetic origin can produce pollutants and waste at each stage. In this review article, the effects of the fashion and textile industry have been studied from economic and environmental perspectives. The available technologies and methods for waste recovery and recycling at each stage have been studied, and the uses of products after recycling have been systematically investigated. Despite all the progress made in the waste recycling processes of the fashion industry, many deficiencies and challenges still need to be addressed. Among the most critical challenges are the large scale of industries, the problems of collecting and classifying waste materials, and the presence of contaminants including blends and chemicals. There is also need for more awareness among consumers about the importance of fiber-to-fiber recycling processes, because to date the progress in this field is out of proportion to its necessity. Overall, this article is a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the current state of recycling and recovery in the textiles, garment, and fashion industries.