ALBAWABA - In recent years, major fashion brands like H&M have made significant moves towards adding recycled materials into their collections. However, a deeper dive into the world of clothes recycling reveals a complex and often misleading narrative.
While H&M boasts that 79 percent of the polyester in their collections comes from recycled materials, the reality is that most recycled textiles are derived from plastic bottles. In fact, only 22 percent of textile waste in Europe is recycled or reused, with the majority ending up in landfills or being incinerated.
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The process of recycling textiles is not as straightforward as it may seem. Clothes made from multiple fibers are often deemed unrecyclable, and even those that can be recycled must go through a labor-intensive sorting process.
Additionally, recycled cotton often requires blending with other materials due to a decline in quality, creating new challenges in the clothes recycling process.
Despite efforts to promote sustainability, experts warn that recycling polyester may be a dead end due to impurities and contamination from other materials. The environmental impact of polyester production and recycling has raised concerns among environmental groups, with calls to eliminate polyester from the fashion industry altogether.
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The truth behind clothes recycling is that the process is far from perfect and may not be as environmentally friendly as it is often portrayed.
As the fashion industry goes through the challenges of recycling, consumers should try to adopt a more sustainable approach by reducing consumption, repairing, reusing, and upcycling their clothing. Ultimately, the key to a more sustainable future lies in a shift towards mindful consumerism and responsible production practices.
