All frameworks identify a need to address multiple issues. Often these must be
addressed simultaneously. For example, to increase recycling of clothing unsuitable
for reuse, markets must be developed at the same time that infrastructure is
developed, collection mechanisms are put in place and public communications
occur; if any three of these occur without the fourth, then the system will not be able
to change. Projects such as ECAP and RESYNTEX are seeking to address these
complex challenges.
Harbi [5] presented the RESYNTEX project which addresses two objectives of a
circular economy; to reduce waste and to reduce resource extraction through use of
textile waste to generate secondary raw materials. RESYNTEX is a partnership
between 20 organisations funded by Horizon 2020 to take the clothing currently
sent to landfill or incineration and, through biochemical processing, generate resin,
bioethanol, bottle-grade PET granulate and value added chemicals. The project will
use both LCA and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) to assess the performance of the
process, and will further explore biochemical treatment to understand the different
contributions and optimise performance. The RESYNTEX system will also be
compared with reference systems and global textile/chemical markets will be
assessed.
3 Future Perspectives
The conference session achieved broad consensus on the scale of the challenge for
the textiles sector, and the growth of these challenges if action is not taken. There is
a recognition of the value of life cycle management in guiding organisations, and
the need for fundamental change across the value chain.
There was consensus in the conference session that there is a need to consider
multiple environmental issues, and that there are data barriers to understanding
toxicity impacts. However, these are surmountable. There is a need for characterisation factors to reflect properly environmental impact of conventional and alternative DWORs and improvements in knowledge about DWOR production and
composition. There is also a need to address multiple market challenges to realise a
systemic change in the way clothes are managed at end of life and used as raw
materials again. Further research and development in this area will be required.
References
1. EEA, Environmental Indicators Report 2014, pp 26, 114, 115.
2. Roos S, Arvidsson R, Jönsson C, Calculating the toxicity footprint of Swedish clothing
consumption, LCM 2017 conference, Luxembourg, 2017.
3. Fierro J, Martínez C, Environmental analysis of the best available finishing products to provide
water, oil and dirt repellency in the textile sector - A Life Cycle Assessment approach, LCM
2017 conference, Luxembourg, 2017.
64
K. James and J. Lings
addressed simultaneously. For example, to increase recycling of clothing unsuitable
for reuse, markets must be developed at the same time that infrastructure is
developed, collection mechanisms are put in place and public communications
occur; if any three of these occur without the fourth, then the system will not be able
to change. Projects such as ECAP and RESYNTEX are seeking to address these
complex challenges.
Harbi [5] presented the RESYNTEX project which addresses two objectives of a
circular economy; to reduce waste and to reduce resource extraction through use of
textile waste to generate secondary raw materials. RESYNTEX is a partnership
between 20 organisations funded by Horizon 2020 to take the clothing currently
sent to landfill or incineration and, through biochemical processing, generate resin,
bioethanol, bottle-grade PET granulate and value added chemicals. The project will
use both LCA and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) to assess the performance of the
process, and will further explore biochemical treatment to understand the different
contributions and optimise performance. The RESYNTEX system will also be
compared with reference systems and global textile/chemical markets will be
assessed.
3 Future Perspectives
The conference session achieved broad consensus on the scale of the challenge for
the textiles sector, and the growth of these challenges if action is not taken. There is
a recognition of the value of life cycle management in guiding organisations, and
the need for fundamental change across the value chain.
There was consensus in the conference session that there is a need to consider
multiple environmental issues, and that there are data barriers to understanding
toxicity impacts. However, these are surmountable. There is a need for characterisation factors to reflect properly environmental impact of conventional and alternative DWORs and improvements in knowledge about DWOR production and
composition. There is also a need to address multiple market challenges to realise a
systemic change in the way clothes are managed at end of life and used as raw
materials again. Further research and development in this area will be required.
References
1. EEA, Environmental Indicators Report 2014, pp 26, 114, 115.
2. Roos S, Arvidsson R, Jönsson C, Calculating the toxicity footprint of Swedish clothing
consumption, LCM 2017 conference, Luxembourg, 2017.
3. Fierro J, Martínez C, Environmental analysis of the best available finishing products to provide
water, oil and dirt repellency in the textile sector - A Life Cycle Assessment approach, LCM
2017 conference, Luxembourg, 2017.
64
K. James and J. Lings