Environmental Assessment of Textile Material Recovery Techniques : Examining Textile Flows in Sweden

Sammanfattning: The production of textiles, focusing on cotton and polyester, carries with it major environmental concerns such as significant water and chemical use as well as the use of non-renewable resources. Measures need to be taken to decrease those environmental burdens. The present study investigates four different recovery techniques in terms of specific environmental factors. The investigated recovery methods are the Re:newcell method, polyester recycling, textile to insulation material and biogas production from the digestion of textile waste. Incineration is also included as a reference alternative. Waste flows in Sweden are estimated through a literature review of conducted waste analyses and estimations as to the amount of secondary product that can be produced from that input are duly made. Further, the environmental implications of three potential locations for a sorting facility are investigated. Converting cotton into biogas was found to be an unrealistic approach since it is economically inviable and little or no energy is actually gained when transportation costs are taken into consideration. Further studies on the benefits and costs of recycling cotton into insulation material are needed. The unavoidable transportation related to collection, sorting and recycling are not to be underestimated and could in some cases hinder future environmental improvements.  Finally, the study found that fiber material recycling is the only treatment method that has the potential to decrease the environmental burdens related to primary production although, despite the fact it requires the most water and chemicals. However, the data reliability in the current study is a matter of concern and further research in the form of standardized data collection and the use of analytical and strategic tools in further assessments is recommended. Although the recovery of textile material is crucial for decreasing the environmental burdens from primary production of textiles, the work in preventing textile waste is even more vital. In the long run, the prevention of waste is far more important as recovery processes demands their own share of resources.