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Originally Posted On: https://realitypaper.com/what-is-recycled-cotton-and-its-benefits.html
Each year, Americans generate around 17 million tons of textile waste.
Of those textiles, cotton is one of the most popular fabrics used in clothing and home products. The key to preventing unnecessary waste, then, may be in changing how we use (and dispose of) cotton.
One sustainable solution is using recycled cotton.
Aside from reducing landfill waste, there are many other benefits of recycled cotton. Find out how recycling cotton fabrics works and what advantages it offers both consumers and manufacturers.
How Cotton Is Produced
First, to better understand the benefits of recycled cotton, it helps to understand how traditional cotton is made.
Cotton is first harvested from fields, and then put through a cotton gin where it is cleaned of seeds, dirt, and leaves. This produces bales of cotton that are spun into yarn, which are then put in a loom that weaves them together to make fabric. Then, the cotton fabric is treated, bleached, and dyed.
Though this process may sound innocent enough, it isn’t without problems.
First, the growing of cotton uses pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers which have been shown to harm people and the environment.
Production of cotton fibers also uses (and wastes) a lot of water. Then, the processing of cotton to make fabric uses energy that contributes to Co2 and fossil fuel emissions.
Finally, the dyes and chemicals used to treat the cotton fabrics can be toxic. Often, they drain into nearby rivers, harming nature and the environment.
With the negative environmental impact of producing new cotton, recycling cotton may be a better and safer choice.
What Is Recycled Cotton?
Recycled cotton is created from already-produced cotton. Cotton fabric is made into cotton fibers to be used again.
Cotton fabric and materials are sorted by type and color, shredded in a machine, and broken down to finer fibers. Then, the yarn created from these fibers can be given a second life in new clothing or other cotton textile products.
Where Does Recycled Cotton Come From?
Recycled cotton fabrics can be sourced from either pre-consumer sources or post-consumer sources.
Pre-consumer sources include scraps and yarn leftover from the production of other cotton materials. This is where the majority of recycled cotton comes from.
Other recycled cotton comes from post-consumer sources, where used clothing and other cotton products are recycled to be used again. These items are typically donated by consumers at places like thrift shops. Recently, many retailers are also collecting old clothing to be used to create new cotton clothing and products.
Benefits of Recycled Cotton
With the energy and waste needed to produce new cotton, it’s easy to see how recycled cotton may be a more sustainable option. Along with being eco-friendly, there are several benefits of recycling cotton for both consumers and manufacturers.
Benefits for Manufacturers and Brands
For textile and clothing manufacturers, there are several reasons why recycled cotton is beneficial.
For one, opting for recycled cotton can reduce the company’s carbon footprint. This is not only good for the environment but can also lower the cost of carbon tax the company must pay.
Using recycled cotton can also make it easier to track and control the supply chain footprint. Because new cotton is sometimes produced with the help of slave labor, recycled cotton can be a more ethical choice.
By choosing more sustainable and ethical fabrics, a brand can also market themselves positively. Using recycled and eco-friendly materials can help create a positive brand image, which may help with sales and customer loyalty.
Benefits for Consumers
Consumers who buy clothing and products made from recycled cotton can feel good knowing that they’re supporting more sustainable and ethical companies.
Today, many consumers are more informed about the waste and pollutants involved in cotton production. Products made from recycled cotton may better align with their personal values.
Even when compared to other eco-friendly fabrics such as organic cotton, recycled cotton may be more popular among consumers because it uses less water and other resources to produce.
And, often, using recycled cotton is easy. Recycled cotton is becoming more commonly used in clothing and other everyday products.
Examples of Recycled Cotton Products
Cotton is one of the world’s most popular fabrics for clothing. It’s no surprise, then, that clothing is also one of the easiest ways to use recycled cotton.
From jeans to t-shirts to undergarments, cotton can be recycled and reused in new garments.
But recycled cotton can be used in more than just clothing. Many home products, like bedding, upholstery, window curtains, and towels require cotton.
For some recycled cotton, the quality of the fibers is compromised after being shredded. But even for recycled cotton that is damaged or found to be of low quality, it can still be reused in new products. Mops, insulation, and filling (such as the stuffing used for stuffed toys) are all products that can use low-grade recycled cotton.
With so many uses and ways of recycling cotton into new products, no cotton has to go to waste.
Recycled Cotton: From Trash to Treasure
Recycling cotton is one way to reduce the amount of waste found in landfills each year. And choosing recycled cotton also has many benefits for both manufacturers and consumers.
Cotton is everywhere: in the jeans we wear, the sofas we relax on, and the towels we use. Opting for sustainable recycled cotton can be one easy way to live a more sustainable lifestyle.
