The Use of Waste Textiles as a Resource
As the global economy transitions toward sustainable development, the use of waste textiles is receiving considerable attention. Statistics indicate that the global recovery of waste textiles reached 21.65 million tons in 2021, representing a 6.13% increase from the previous year.
In the same vein, the utilization of these textiles has been steadily increasing, rising from 2.852 million tons in 2016 to 4.565 million tons in 2021, which reflects an average annual growth rate of 9.86%.
According to the data, the global textile recycling market was valued at $5.76 billion in 2023, with projections to grow to $8.49 billion by 2032, indicating a compound annual growth rate of 4.3% during this period. In that year, global fiber production reached 124 million tons, with China accounting for 50% of the total textile fiber production.
These metrics underscore a sustained upward trajectory in both the scale and economic value of waste textile recovery and utilization.
Global Trend: Focus on the Utilization of Waste Textiles
As societal awareness of environmental conservation continues to rise, the recycling and repurposing of waste textiles have become prominent global trends. This transition not only reflects the growing market demand but also emphasizes the essential need for resource circulation. Recycling waste textiles can significantly mitigate resource shortages, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and protect land resources.
Research indicates that for every kilogram of waste textiles recycled and repurposed, approximately 3.6 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions can be avoided. Additionally, this process saves around 6,000 liters of water, lessens the need for 0.3 kilograms of fertilizer, and cuts down on 0.2 kilograms of pesticide use. This highlights the crucial role of recycling waste textiles in improving resource efficiency and protecting the environment.
Obstacles in Recycling and Usage
Despite the positive trend in resource utilization of waste textiles, the industry encounters several practical challenges:
Incomplete Recycling Systems: Although many nations have implemented recycling systems for waste textiles, the overall recovery rate remains disappointingly low. Reports reveal that about 95% of old clothing is recyclable, yet only 12% to 15% is actually recycled. In numerous developing countries, the absence of effective recycling infrastructure results in a large volume of textile waste being disposed of in landfills or incinerated.
Insufficient Consumer Awareness: Even as environmental consciousness gradually rises, many consumers still neglect the recycling and reuse of waste textiles. This lack of attention leads to inadequate collection and use of recyclable materials.
Complex Industrial Production: Waste textiles often comprise various materials, and the combination of natural and synthetic fibers complicates recycling and reuse. This complexity affects processing techniques, which in turn impacts the quality and economic feasibility of the end products.
Secondary Pollution Issues: Waste textiles may harbor harmful substances, including heavy metals and dyes. Without proper treatment, these components can contribute to secondary pollution, escalating the technical challenges associated with recycling and utilization.
Research in environmental science and pollution indicates that managing old textiles poses significant challenges. While recycling is possible, the environmental impact is considerable, and the resulting product quality is typically low. Studies highlight that old textiles can be processed to create solid recovered fuel (SRF) that complies with the ISO 21640:2021 standard. Natural and man-made cellulose fibers are deemed suitable for SRF production, while synthetic fibers are less favorable due to their higher emission factors.
Alternative Fuel Solutions
Among the various waste management strategies, the energy recovery of discarded textiles, particularly their conversion into solid recovered fuel (SRF) and refuse-derived fuel (RDF), demonstrates significant potential. The production of these fuels supports both waste utilization and energy generation.
Conversion Process: Waste textiles can be transformed into high calorific value fuels via crushing and post-processing techniques. This process involves sorting the waste and cutting it into specific energy values and particle sizes to accommodate different combustion technologies. Such an approach not only guarantees the environmental sustainability of the final product but also paves the way for innovative clean energy applications.
Effective Replacement of Traditional Energy: As a renewable energy option, SRF and RDF can substitute conventional fossil fuels like natural gas, oil, and coal, and are suitable for use in cement and thermal power plants. These alternative fuels help reduce dependency on finite natural resources and aid in decreasing carbon emissions, which supports the achievement of emission reduction goals.
Promoting Resource Circulation: The conversion of waste textiles into SRF and RDF enhances the reintegration of waste within the energy production cycle, facilitating more thorough resource recycling. This process not only alleviates environmental pressures but also creates new economic opportunities for businesses, fostering greater commercial possibilities.
Implementation of Solutions
In this light, Harden's extensive waste textile resource utilization solutions have demonstrated significant effectiveness in RDF/SRF production technologies. These solid waste resource management systems focus on high calorific industrial waste, such as waste fabrics, plastics, and leather scraps, utilizing a dual-shaft and single-shaft two-stage crushing method.
This technique proficiently processes complex materials while ensuring that 95% of the output meets the specified particle size, which streamlines the production of subsequent RDF forming materials and satisfies market demand for SRF bulk materials.
After thorough processing, waste textiles and other solid waste can be efficiently transformed into RDF alternative fuel, sized between 30mm and 80mm. This alternative fuel offers a high calorific value with low carbon emissions and can directly substitute coal and other fossil fuels employed in thermal power plants and cement facilities, thus providing substantial assistance in achieving carbon reduction objectives.
To advance a circular economy and optimize global resource utilization, effective waste textile resource utilization requires collaboration among industry stakeholders and external partners. Harden is committed to partnering with various organizations and the industrial chain to enhance technologies for recycling and reusing waste textiles, promoting low-carbon and circular economies.
