Post-consumer plastic – Fiber-to-Fiber Recycling: Transforming Textile Waste into New Fibers 28-05-2024
Post-consumer plastic
Crude Oil Prices Trend
Crude Oil Prices Trend by Polyestertime
In the first five months of the year, PlasticFinder, an e-commerce platform for the plastics industry, saw a 30% growth in recycled products, with over 100 new users registered
This trend, explained by PlasticFinder’s president Stefano Chiaramondia, is driven by new European regulations, consumer demand, and brand owners’ interest in quality recycled plastic.
Chiaramondia highlights the need for qualified partners to guide companies and the supply chain through the complex transition to a circular economy. The challenge is compounded by the insufficient quantity of recycled plastic in Europe, necessitating imports from outside the EU, which must meet strict conformity standards. Post-consumer plastic
European converters, accustomed to importing virgin materials, may also turn to imported recycled plastics. However, market dynamics differ due to European regulations ensuring material quality and traceability. To meet growing demand, Europe must import compliant non-EU recycled products, adhering to current regulations.
Non-compliant materials are deemed waste under these regulations, posing significant risks to processing companies, including criminal liabilities. PlasticFinder offers tools to ensure the conformity of recycled plastics, such as the end-of-waste certification and REACH compliance for major polymers like PET, HDPE, and LDPE. Post-consumer plastic
To support companies, PlasticFinder will launch a new recycled plastic assessment service, debuting on June 19-20 in Amsterdam at the Plastics Recycling Show Europe 2024. This free service for registered companies will help verify if their products can be marketed in Europe and provide solutions if needed.
At IFAT in Munich, the Erema Group and Lindner Washtech unveiled how intelligent energy management and efficient data communication enhance recycled pellet quality in plastics recycling
This collaboration marked the first results of their joint venture.
The key to innovative plastics recycling lies in optimizing every step of the value chain. From material collection to final recycling, fine-tuning each process is crucial. Lindner and Erema’s cooperation, formalized under the BLUEONE Solutions holding, leverages their combined expertise. Erema, a leader in extruders and filtration for plastics recycling, and Lindner Washtech, known for shredding, sorting, and washing solutions, are driving this initiative. Post-consumer plastic
Data transfer between the extruder and washing system is central to their strategy. “We developed a platform for data exchange,” said Manfred Hackl, CEO of the Erema Group. This enables precise data analysis, facilitating process improvements. For instance, the throughput data from Erema’s Pre Conditioning Unit can optimize the washing process, compensating for capacity fluctuations and boosting output. This step forwards digitalization significantly enhances recycling efficiency.
Efficient energy management is also vital. “We use heat from the extrusion process to power washing and drying,” explained Michael Lackner, Managing Director of Lindner.
Using synergies along the value chain is essential to meet quality standards for end applications. Collaboration between industry leaders like Lindner and Erema improves recycling processes, moving away from downcycling. Post-consumer plastic
They have already demonstrated success with the HDPE recycling loop, producing high-quality, food-safe rHDPE pellets.
How to Reduce Textile Waste in the Fashion Industry
The myopic approach of the fast fashion industry has become a major cause for concern. “Cheap clothing” which attracts millions of buyers in all parts of the world, is not so “cheap” after all. The earth pays the cost when 92 million tonnes of textile waste are dumped annually into landfills, and 42 million tonnes of plastic waste are created each year. These shocking textile waste statistics should be enough to jolt us into action.
“Shop less, think more.” – Vivienne Westwood, the fashion designer said it best.
Change needs to come from within. Post-consumer plastic
There is so much that can be done. Many businesses are adopting sustainable methods to help counter the crisis.
Let us take a look at the steps that can and are being taken to help reduce textile waste in the fashion industry.
Choosing Eco-friendly Innovative Fabrics
Our landfill sites are brimming to the top. This is not only because excessive amounts of waste are generated during the various stages of a fabric’s life cycle, but also because this waste does not biodegrade. Replacing synthetic fibres such as polyester and nylon with sustainable ones will be a step in the right direction. Post-consumer plastic
Sustainable Textiles for Innovative Interiors
The increasing demand for sustainable textile is driven by the urgent need to reduce environmental impact and introduce innovative solutions across various industries, including marine, automotive, hospitality, healthcare, and cruise lines. Our comprehensive range of eco-friendly materials, such as eco-friendly sustainable faux leather, vegan faux leather, lightweight marine-grade faux leather, and recyclable fiber, is designed to meet these demands while promoting sustainability.
Innovative Sustainable Materials
The portfolio of sustainable textiles includes pioneering materials such as:
Seaweed Bioplastics: This innovative bioplastic, derived from abundant marine seaweed, captures carbon from the atmosphere and supports continuous recycling. Post-consumer plastic
Cork: Biodegradable and recyclable, cork is harvested sustainably from the outer bark of trees, allowing the trees to continue sequestering carbon.
Bacterial Nanocellulose: Made from renewable marine seaweed, this material captures atmospheric carbon, contributing to the eco-friendly credentials of sustainable textiles.
Soy Extract: Enhances carbon-14 bio-content through plant-based solvents extracted from soybeans. Post-consumer plastic
Food Waste: Innovative alternatives to traditional leather, such as those made from potato peels and coffee grounds, reduce waste and promote sustainability.
Mycelium Leather: This fungal leather emits fewer greenhouse gases and consumes fewer resources than traditional plastic leather or livestock production, highlighting its role in the realm of sustainable textile.
Biobased Materials: These materials are derived from renewable sources, such as plants and agricultural waste, and are designed to be biodegradable and sustainable, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and lowering carbon footprints. Post-consumer plastic
Explore Innovative Sustainable Materials – Contact Us for More Information!
Recyclable Fibers in Sustainable Textiles
In addition to eco-friendly materials, recyclable fibers play a crucial role in sustainable textiles.
Fiber-to-Fiber Recycling: Transforming Textile Waste into New Fibers
Fiber-to-fiber recycling is an innovative process that converts textile waste into new fibers, which are then used to create new clothing and other textile products. This sustainable method addresses the growing concern of textile waste by repurposing discarded fabrics into valuable resources.
The process begins with sorting the fabric by color and type, including synthetic materials like polyester and rayon. This initial step ensures that the fibers are compatible for recycling and helps maintain the quality of the final product. Once sorted, the fabric is stripped down to its raw fiber form. These raw fibers are thoroughly cleaned to remove any impurities that could affect the quality of the new textiles. Post-consumer plastic
After cleaning, the fibers can be dyed to achieve the desired color and then spun into yarn. This yarn is used to create new textiles, ranging from garments to insulation materials. The re-spinning process is crucial as it gives the fibers a new life, transforming them into versatile and high-quality products.
Fiber-to-fiber recycling not only helps reduce the environmental impact of textile waste but also promotes a circular economy. By reusing materials that would otherwise end up in landfills, this process supports sustainable fashion and reduces the need for virgin materials. Post-consumer plastic
Has recycling failed as a solution to the plastic pollution crisis?
For many years, criticisms of plastic recycling – as a concept and as a solution to our plastic pollution crisis – have been offered. With the possibility of a global plastics treaty arriving by the end of this year, these arguments warrant consideration, especially with Greenpeace among their proponents. For its critics, plastic recycling remains, despite decades of effort, an unproven intervention because the toxicity and variety of contemporary plastics makes them inherently unsuitable for recycling.
In this year’s Big Plastic Count, Greenpeace claim that of the 1.7bn plastics binned each week (90bn annually), 58% was incinerated, 11% landfilled, 14% exported and just 17% recycled. So, will plastic recycling always be a dead-end – or does it have some part to play in a circular future? Post-consumer plastic
Recycling plastics preserves, creates and releases toxins
Funded by the Norwegian Research Council and run by a group of Norwegian and Swiss research organisations, the PlastChem project created a database of over 16,000 chemicals and polymers used in the production of plastics around the world, concluding that more than 4,200 were ‘of concern because they are persistent, bioaccumulative, mobile and/or toxic.’ Post-consumer plastic
The Two Types of Molecular Recycling at Eastman
At Eastman, we utilize two pioneering molecular recycling technologies: Polyester Renewal Technology (PRT) and Carbon Renewal Technology (CRT). These innovative methods play a crucial role in addressing the growing issue of plastic waste and advancing the circular economy.
Polyester Renewal Technology (PRT) focuses on recycling polyester plastics. Items such as soft drink bottles, carpets, and polyester-based clothing are prime candidates for this process. PRT works by breaking down these polyester products into their fundamental monomers through a process often referred to as “unzipping.” Post-consumer plastic
This method not only ensures the effective recycling of polyester but also maintains the quality of the original material, enabling it to be reused in the production of new polyester items.
Carbon Renewal Technology (CRT), on the other hand, offers a broader approach to recycling various types of waste plastics. This technology converts complex plastic waste, which is often hard to recycle through traditional means, into basic molecular building blocks. These molecules can then be used to produce a wide range of materials and products. CRT is particularly valuable for its ability to handle mixed and contaminated plastics, which are typically challenging to recycle. Post-consumer plastic
Post-consumer plastic