2023-11-29 04:00:00
Time.news – The fashion industry, which produces large amounts of waste, is under pressure to recycle clothes, a very difficult task for which technological solutions are still in their infancy. NGOs warn that iThe real problem is overproduction that’s it technological innovations can simply be excused for brands to continue producing billions of new clothes.
But policies aimed at combating climate change are forcing companies to position themselves in terms of recycling and the sharing economy. “Brands have to achieve high levels of recycling very quickly and if they don’t, the EU will fine them heavily,” Paul Foulkes-Arellano, an expert on sustainability issues, told AFP. Below are 6 possible ways that you can follow in this direction.
Take the strings
Most clothing is made from a mixture of materials which makes it difficult to recycle. The US company Circ has developed a chemical solution to separate the most common compound, polycotton, into its components. It uses a hydrothermal process to liquefy polyester and separate it from cotton. Both can then be changed to new threads. The Zara brand used them for a clothing line released in April.
Collection and extraction
Lack of infrastructure for collecting and sorting old clothes, which must be cleaned and separated from other waste. SuperCircle brings together delivery companies, warehouses and tracking systems to streamline the process. They hope to change public attitudes with collection boxes in stores, free delivery labels and other incentives.
“We need simplicity, convenience and incentives for consumers, so that when they finish something, the first thing they think of is recycling,” said co-founder Stuart Ahlum. Starting with their own brand, Thousand Fall, they quickly and now handle all recycling logistics for many companies and institutions, including Uniqlo in North America.
‘In-house’ recycling
Saentis Textiles has already helped overcome a major challenge with a patented machine capable of recycling cotton with minimal damage to the fibers, so that new quality fabrics can be produced. Its recycled cotton is used by brands such as Ikea, Patagonia and Tommy Hilfiger. Now he sells his machine to textile companies to be installed directly in their factories, allowing them to remove the cuts and repair them on the spot.
3D knitting machine
Unspun made one of the first 3D machines in the world capable of weaving a pair of custom jeans, in less than 10 minutes. He is currently building his first micro-factory in Oakland (California) to show how it works. The machine will eliminate fabric waste and reduce movement.
Preparation of clothes
Clothes need to be prepared before they can be recycled – that’s the priority of Cetia, a company based in France. Some of his devices are simple, like the one that removes the soles from shoes. Others are more complex. Artificial intelligence is used to identify hard points such as buttons and zippers. This way the laser can cut without damaging the material.
Take carbon dioxide
Rubi Labs has developed a way to capture carbon dioxide waste from factories and turn it into cellulose, similar to how trees work, where the stored CO2 is used indirectly to grow different structures. The resulting cellulose pulp can then be used to produce cotton. In July, Rubi Labs announced a pilot project with retail giant Walmart to test its innovation. It remains to be seen whether it will be possible to implement it on a large scale.
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