The global push towards more sustainable practices has become evident in all industries and textiles is no exception. Government policies and consumer demands are driving companies towards more circular processes, bringing attention to textile-to-textile recycling.

Awareness of the emerging technologies is growing, but those looking to invest in new methods must first understand the basics. The below provides an overview of textile-to-textile recycling, including terminology, recycling mechanisms and relevant legislation, to aid companies engaging in the space.

Textile-to-textile recycling vs fibre-to-fibre recycling
Recycling is described as the process in which waste material or by-products are gathered, treated and processed so they are suitable for further use [1].

When considering textiles, there are two methods that can be utilised for recycling. While many stakeholders use the term interchangeably, some industry experts note that fibre-to-fibre (F2F) refers to recycling waste into new input materials specifically for manufacturing, while textile-to-textile (T2T) recycling creates new products from discarded and reclaimed textile waste [2][3].  

Legislation pressures
Sustainability goals set by governments worldwide have led to new legislation relating to textile waste management. Countries in the EU, for example, will be required to collect their textile waste separately from 1^st January 2025, for