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Sustainability in Textiles: Life Cycle Assessment of Polyester and Cotton Production with Dissolution Recycling Pathways
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A life cycle assessment of dissolving equal-ratio polyester-cotton textile blends with DMSO found that dissolution recycling generates lower energy consumption and carbon emissions than incineration, demonstrating a more sustainable pathway for recovering synthetic fibers from mixed textile waste. Diverting synthetic textiles from landfill and incineration through dissolution recycling reduces the generation of polyester microplastics that enter soil and water during fiber degradation.
The textile waste was disposed of in landfills or incinerated, which causes environmental pollution and resource depletion. Alternatively, dissolution is an alternative solution due to its potential for recycling and resource recovery. Due to the importance of sustainable assessment on introducing alternative solutions, the life cycle assessment was conducted to determine the environmental impacts and feasibility of the dissolution. This study specifically uses an equal ratio of blended polyester and cotton textile waste via solvent dissolution with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) framework based on International Organization for Standardization (ISO 14044:2006) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO 14040:2006) was used to identify environmental hotspots, estimate energy and resource needs, and recommend process improvements. Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) was conducted in terms of ReCiPe, both midpoint and endpoint indicators, and Cumulative Energy Demand (CED) impact categories. The assessment encompasses key stages, including raw material extraction, processing, and dissolution, focusing on energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and resource efficiency. Findings show that dissolution recycling promises a sustainable solution because the dissolution method uses lower energy utilities and lower carbon emissions than the incineration process (Nordahl, 2023). In conclusion, this study helps to solve knowledge gaps in advanced recycling technologies for blended textiles and promotes the adoption of sustainable practices in textile waste management and circular economy activities.
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