End-of-life textiles: From trash to treasure

According to the European Commission, 5 million tonnes of clothing are discarded each year in the EU, around 12kg per person, and only 1% of material in clothing is recycled into new clothing.The chemical industry can make a difference to address this challenge. Renewcell can use 100% textile waste like worn-out jeans and production scraps and turn parts of it into biodegradable raw material that can be used for producing new clothing. 

The chemical industry can make a difference to address this challenge. Renewcell can use 100% textile waste like worn-out jeans and production scraps and turn parts of it into biodegradable raw material that can be used for producing new clothing.

How does it work? Renewcell’s recycling technology dissolves used cotton and other cellulose fibres and transforms them into a biodegradable pulp. Dissolving pulp serves as raw material for the textile industry to make viscose, lyocell, and other types of regenerated fibres. This means that instead of using wood as a basis for the pulp, textile waste can be used.  

The way fashion is produced and consumed can now be transformed into a circular process. 

Associated SDGs