Recycling as the way to greener production: A mini review

Abstract Any industry have significant impact on environment and textile manufacturing is one of the main contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. This paper summarizes and discusses the ecofriendly achievements within development of textile industry dealing with three main contributors: production, consumption and recycling. It shows that although significant environmental friendly technological improvements were made in primary textile production whereas, recycling and consumer awareness have low sustainability level for textile industry. The emphasis was also made on comparison of textile industry with other ones (paper, aluminium, glass) showing significantly higher recycling rate. Waste management regulation for textiles and the lack for standardization for global textile waste management are also discussed. Low recycling rate and continuously increasing demand in textile production makes it difficult to establish the balance between industrial and environmental systems necessary to increased life cycle for textile products. Importance of simultaneous involvement and development of customer awareness, sustainable manufacturing and high recycling level should, therefore, be in focus.