A novel technique enables researchers to chemically degrade used clothing and reuse polyester components to produce fire-resistant, anti-bacterial, or wrinkle-free coatings that may be put on garments and fabrics to make textiles more sustainable.
The textile, clothing, and footwear industries, which collectively account for 20% of the world’s solid waste, have reason for optimism thanks to the proof-of-concept study. Many recyclers actually wind up illegally disposing of textiles as rubbish in Asia and Africa.
