recycledfiber

Recycled fiber is a broad term for fibers produced from recovered materials rather than virgin raw fibers. It covers textile fibers reclaimed from pre-consumer and post-consumer waste, as well as pulp fibers recovered from used paper. Recycled fiber supports circular economy goals by reducing resource use and diverting waste from landfills.

Sources of recycled fiber include post-consumer textiles such as clothing and consumer packaging, as well as post-industrial waste like manufacturing scraps. In papermaking, recycled fiber comes from old newspapers, office papers, and other printed or unprinted fiberstock. Recycling methods are mainly mechanical, which physically reprocess fibers, or chemical, which break materials down to monomers or dissolvable units for reconstitution into new fibers or pulp.

In textiles, recycled cotton fibers are produced from cotton scraps and used garments through opening, cleaning, and blending with virgin fibers to achieve required strength and texture. Recycled polyester typically originates from PET bottles or polyester scraps, using melt-reextrusion or chemical processes to reform fibers. Other polymers such as nylon can be recycled into new textile fibers through similar pathways. In papermaking, recycled fiber is obtained by repulping recovered paper and may involve de-inking to remove inks and coatings.

Advantages of recycled fiber include reduced virgin material demand, lower waste volumes, and potential energy savings. However, challenges persist, such as variability in fiber quality and color, reduced strength or length in recycled fibers, process costs, and concerns about microplastic shedding for some synthetic fibers. Certification and traceability schemes help address quality and environmental claims.

Applications span apparel, upholstery, home textiles, automotive interiors, insulation, and various paper products. Ongoing research aims to improve fiber recovery, de-inking, and recycling efficiency to expand viability and performance.