INNOVATIVE TEXTILE RECYCLING AND UPCYCLING TECHNOLOGIES FOR CIRCULAR FASHION: REDUCING LANDFILL WASTE AND ENHANCING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Abstract

This systematic review examines innovative textile recycling and upcycling technologies for circular fashion to curb waste and reduce environmental impacts. Using PRISMA 2020, we searched major databases for studies from January 2010 to August 2022 and extracted technical and environmental data. We reviewed 95 peer-reviewed studies spanning mechanical, chemical, biological, thermal, sorting and pre-processing, and upcycling pathways. Across circular fiber-to-fiber routes, median landfill diversion was 74 percent, while thermal contingencies diverted 100 percent of mass; aggregated evidence indicates cradle-to-gate greenhouse-gas reductions of 38 to 49 percent versus virgin baselines. Mechanical recycling recovered on average 86 percent of fiber mass but typically required blending due to an 18 percent tenacity drop. Dissolution–regeneration of cellulosics often reached apparel-grade tenacities, and chemical depolymerization delivered median monomer yields near 90 percent for PET and 85 percent for nylon-6. Enzymatic approaches broadened feasibility for blends, achieving about 78 percent PET conversion under mild conditions. Integration factors were decisive: raising bale purity from 90 to 97 percent via NIR or FTIR sorting increased yields by 12 to 18 percent in mechanical lines and about 8 percent in chemical lines; explicit elastane removal boosted cellulosic recovery by 12 to 15 points and reduced fouling. verall, the evidence supports a hierarchy that prioritizes high-value regeneration where purity thresholds are met, uses selective enzymatic or solvent steps to unlock blends, reserves thermochemical options for intractable streams, and treats advanced sorting as essential infrastructure for reliable diversion and emissions gains.