Sustainability and Circular Economy in Textile and Apparel Industry in Bangladesh

Abstract

The textile sector is one of the most important and fifth largest industrial sectors in the world. Textile sector has created Job opportunity for Millions of workers around the world. The apparel industry plays a great role in economy, employment, investment and revenue all around the world.  Textile recycling is a procedure that transforms old or unwanted textiles into new products. This helps to decrease the amount of textile wastage and save assets.  Over the last few decades the rate of both pre- and post-consumer textile waste generation has increased significantly. Textile recycling involves reprocessing post-industrial or post-consumer textiles into new products, the term recycling refers to the conversion of textile waste into something approximating the same value.  Textile recycling generally includes mechanical and/or chemical processes that turn textile fabrics back into their fiber components to then be remanufactured into fabrics. Post-consumer waste results in lower-quality recycled fiber due to degradation during wear, therefore, only pre-consumer waste is typically recycled mechanically.  A circular economy can assist by the development of right choices in the design of products, selection of resources, production, retailing and consumption phases and ultimately in the end of life of the products. Worldwide, 75% of textile waste is landfilled, while 25% is recycled or reused. Landfilling of textile waste is a prevalent option that is deemed unsustainable. Promoting an enhanced diversion of textile waste from landfills demands optimized reuse and recycling technologies various textile reuse and recycling technologies are available and progressively innovated to favor blended fabrics.  This Paper highlights the process of mechanical and chemical recycling of Textiles. Benefits of circular economy and how to overcome the Challenges of Circular Economy. Also, will presents the sustainability and efficiency of the Bangladeshi textile industry.