'Reusing textiles is more efficient and sustainable'

27 Feb '14

2 min read

Industry experts advise on reusing and recycling textile material to manufacture textile and apparel products rather than using virgin material as it is more efficient and sustainable.

Speaking to Fibre2Fashion, Stephen Wiegand, CEO, I:CO said, “Our resources are getting scarcer, our raw materials are getting more expensive, and our landfills are growing continuously. Reusing materials by upcycling them, which means by transforming them in a product of equal or higher quality, is much more efficient and sustainable than using solely virgin materials.”

On a similar note, Christina Dean, Founder and CEO, Redress, comments that we may face increased and uncertain costs associated with virgin materials and natural resource prices. This will place a higher business incentive to drive better recycling, she says.

“This will drive more innovative use of textile waste in both the mainstream fashion industry and in the more niche and independent designer industry as players in the high-street and the designer’s studio tackle this agenda and turn waste into an opportunity,” she adds.

“It is less energy-intensive to reuse resources that are contained in used textiles and shoes than to use virgin materials. In my opinion, in the future there would be no alternative to materials being 100% reused in a truly endless cycle,” Stephen avers.

“Many governments and communities have recognized this and are taking responsibility for their waste issues. For the near future, we expect this trend to continue,” he concludes.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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