Textile recycling could cut CO₂ emissions by 440,000 tonnes annually

New Delhi: A 10 per cent textile-to-textile recycling rate by 2035 could cut CO₂ emissions by 440,000 tonnes annually and ease water scarcity by over 3 per cent according to IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute.

The study mentioned that global textile-to-textile recycling remains critically low—at only around 1 per cent, it need an advanced recycling technologies could lift that rate to 26 per cent by 2030.

The research, which examined five key recycling processes, showed a 92 per cent probability of reducing climate impacts and a nearly 100 per cent chance of bringing water scarcity improvements.

The average reduction in climate impact of the new approach, compared to ‘business as usual’, was 0.5 per cent.

Researchers emphasise that while recycling must increase, the processes themselves also require enhanced efficiency to ensure that recycled fibres can effectively replace virgin counterparts.

The findings add weight to calls for coordinated EU action under frameworks like the Energy Efficiency Directive and Circular Economy Action Plan.