Textile Recycling Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Material Type (Cotton, Polyester & Polyester Fiber, Wool, Nylon & Nylon Fibers, and Others), By Process (Mechanical and Chemical), By End-use Industry (Apparel Waste, Home Furnishing Waste, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

The global textile recycling market size was valued at USD 5.76 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow from USD 6.08 billion in 2024 to USD 8.49 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 4.3% during the forecast period. Asia Pacific dominated the textile recycling market with a market share of 44.97% in 2023. Moreover, the textile recycling market in the U.S. is projected to grow significantly, reaching an estimated value of USD 1.29 billion by 2032, driven by the growing utilization of the recycled fiber blend.

Textile recycling is the process that utilizes used or discarded clothing, apparel, and fibrous material from reusable and eco-friendly products. All these waste materials are cleaned, sorted, and turned into recyclable fibers for further chemical and mechanical processes. These processes turn the old material into new products such as wool blankets, plant-friendly yoga mats, and wall wallpaper. The manufacturing of recycled material has increased in the past few years owing to the rise in the awareness of sustainable production. The governments of China, Germany, Italy, and India have encouraged the recycling of textile waste programs to tackle the increasing waste from the textile industry. The recycling of textiles may reduce landfill space, greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, and water pollution. Thus, a rise in the awareness of sustainable production and increasing consumption of recycled textile products in the end-use industry is driving market growth.

The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the textile industry owing to the restrictions on business facilities such as manufacturing units, sales centers, and warehouses. The growth of the textile recycling industry is strongly dependent on the production of clothing and apparel for transport, home, medical, industrial, packaging, and construction end-use applications. Moreover, the pandemic impacted waste material generation from pre- and post-consumer waste collection activities. This led to reduced recycling activities across the globe. Thus, all these factors affected the textile recycling market share in the global textile market and changed the market overview.

Textile Recycling Market Trends

Rising Recycled Fiber Blends Consumption in End-use Applications is a Prominent Trend in Market

Over the past few years, fashion waste has become one of the biggest problems in circular economies around the globe. This has resulted in a drastic increase in recycling activities to reduce pollution and water consumption, as millions of gallons are used during textile production. Moreover, textile recycling companies have adopted newly invented recycling processes, such as closed-loop recycling and recycled fiber blends, to diminish the pressure on waste management.

The utilization of the recycled fiber blend has boosted the textile recycling market growth. These blends can be used in the manufacturing of casual articles in the clothing industry, including sweatshirts, sleepwear, and t-shirts, owing to their eco-friendly characteristics and cost-saving nature. Furthermore, the recycling technologies of recycled textiles are expected to offer massive opportunities in technical textiles. For instance, wool and nylon blends are widely consumed in the production of winter scarves, coats, and sweaters. The wool used in the blend can easily adapt to temperature fluctuations, and nylon enhances the water-wicking characteristics and durability. Thus, increasing consumption of the recycled fiber blend in several end-use applications is an emerging trend in the market.

Textile Recycling Market Growth Factors

Growing Demand for Recycled Textile from End-use Industries to Boost Market Growth

The demand for recycled textiles is gradually increasing in end-use industries such as automotive, fashion, construction, and others. Recycled textiles offer properties similar to virgin textile fibers, including strength, lightness, and flexibility. Such similar properties, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendly nature make it suitable for products such as seat covers, carpets, wearables, and others. Furthermore, the boom in the fashion industry also acts as the major driving factor for market growth. For instance, the key established players in the market, such as H&M, offer their clothing manufactured from waste textile material.

The recycling activity of these fibers maximizes the conservation of natural resources such as natural fibers and water. On the other hand, the innovation of tech-fused clothing combined with recycled clothing products is the most trending innovation in the textile market.

In addition, to meet the increasing demand for household products such as curtains, towels, washing clothes, holders, and bed sheets, many manufacturers have started to use recycled textiles as raw materials. This has resulted in the increased recycling of post- and pre-consumer textile waste. Thus, all these factors are anticipated to boost market growth during the forecast period.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Use of Hazardous Chemicals in Recycling Process May Hamper Market Growth

The use of hazardous chemicals during the textile recovery from the waste is anticipated to hinder market growth. Approximately 10-15% of unbound dyes to textile materials are lost in the industrial wastewater discharge. These dyes are the big reason behind air, land, and water pollution owing to their hazardous nature. The discharged dyes in the water can absorb light and affect aquatic species and the water ecosystem. Furthermore, it may hamper human health when it comes to the long contact with human skin. The dyes can be easily absorbed on the skin, which may be the reason behind skin allergies and other skin-related diseases.

In addition, these used chemicals, such as dyes and other coloring agents, can lead to respiratory disease if proper precautions are not taken during the recycling process. On the other hand, the government has imposed strict rules and regulations on the use of chemicals in textile recovery. Thus, all these factors are expected to impact the global textile recycling market severely.

Textile Recycling Market Segmentation Analysis

By Material Type Analysis

Polyester & Polyester Fiber Segment Held a Dominant Share Owing to the Recycled Nature

By material type, the market is classified into cotton, polyester & polyester fiber, wool, nylon & nylon fibers, and others.

The polyester and polyester fiber segment held the largest market share in 2023. The segment's growth is associated with the large population that consumes a huge amount of polyester in the form of tires, disposable bottles, and other home-furnishing products. Polyester is a recyclable compound that can be easily recycled and combined with other materials to form yarn. Thus, the recycled nature of the product is driving the segment’s growth.

The cotton, wool, nylon & nylon fibers, and others segments had a significant market share in 2023. The growth of these segments is associated with the increasing production of virgin cotton, wool, and nylon for end-use applications such as swimwear, summer wear, and winter wear. These production activities increase the pre-consumer and post-consumer textile waste, including household items and consumer products. This has created pressure on the textile industry to meet the consumer demand and to reduce the waste. Therefore, the need for recyclability from these segments has increased over the past years.

By Process Analysis

Mechanical Segment Accounted for the Largest Share Due To Ease of Installation

The market is segmented into mechanical and chemical on the basis of process.

The mechanical segment had the largest market share in 2023. The growing machinery & equipment sector across the globe is driving the segment’s growth. The recycling machine can be easily installed and does not require any chemical formulation to generate the fibers from the waste. Moreover, the maintenance and running costs are cheaper than those of other processes. All these benefits offered by mechanical equipment for recycling are driving the segment’s growth in the market.

By End-use Industry Analysis

Growing Fashion Industry to Boost the Apparel Waste Segment Growth

Based on the end-use industry, the market is categorized into apparel waste, home furnishing waste, and others.

The apparel waste segment had the largest market share in 2023. The segment’s growth is associated with the huge waste generation from the growing population across the globe. Moreover, the per capita apparel waste has increased over the past few years owing to the rise in the fashion industry.

The adoption of recycling in the home furnishing waste segment is expected to grow considerably during the forecast period. The rising building and construction industry has led to a massive growth of home furnishing waste. The existing construction projects require a large number of home textile products such as curtains, blankets, pillow covers, and others. Therefore, the manufacturers are looking for recycled material, which is boosting the segment’s growth.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

The market for textile recycling is divided regionally into Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.

Asia Pacific, valued at USD 2.59 billion, dominated the global market in 2023. The region is anticipated to maintain its dominance during the forecast period on account of the presence of major product-consuming nations, namely India and China. These nations generate a significant amount of textile waste. Therefore, textile recycling projects have increased in the region, boosting market growth.

The U.S. dominated the North American market in 2023 due to the presence of a large number of recycling manufacturers. In addition, the awareness of green and recycled textiles has increased over the past years. Moreover, the U.S. government has imposed regulations on the chemicals used in recycling. Thus, the recycling activity from the mechanical process has boosted the growth of the region's market.

In Europe, the growing number of recycling campaigns and the demand for sustainable products from the textile industry have created demand for recycled textiles in the region. These factors are anticipated to lead to many growth opportunities for the market in the region.

The Latin America market for textile recycling is poised to witness significant growth in the coming years. Mexico is a major country in this region. Rising product consumption in the automotive and mechanical industries for seatbelts, headliners, seat covers, and belt hoses is projected to drive market growth.

In the Middle East & Africa, the low availability of virgin textile fibers is the key factor supporting recycling activities, further driving the regional growth.

List of Key Companies in Textile Recycling Market

Market Players Deploy New Product Development Strategies to Boost Their Global Presence

LENZING AG, Birla Cellulose, Brandeur, The WoolMark Company, and Pinquito Ltd have vast global presences. They offer various types of recycled textile products. These companies have used acquisition and new product development as their key strategies to increase their global presence and meet customer demand. They serve various end-use industries, such as automotive, consumer home textile goods, and others.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• LENZING AG (Austria)


• Birla Cellulose (India)


• Brandeur (India)


• The WoolMark Company (Australia)


• iinouiio Ltd (England)


• ECOTEX COLLECT (Bulgaria)


• The Boer Group (Netherlands)


• UNIFI, Inc., (U.S.)


• Hyosung Group (South Korea)


• Martex Fiber (U.S.)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• October 2023 - Birla Cellulose launched the eco-friendly circular yarn blend for newly manufactured textile products such as T-shirts, paints, and other clothing.


• May 2023 - LENZING AG and its business partner companies, Aritas and Södra, jointly formed an agreement to launch Austria’s largest textile recycling project. The project will tackle waste generation from different end-use industries. The partnership is expected to reduce waste generation in Asia in the upcoming years.

REPORT COVERAGE

The report provides a detailed analysis of the textile recycling market and focuses on crucial aspects, such as leading companies, material types, processes, and end-use industries. It also offers insights into the latest market trends and highlights vital industry developments. In addition to the factors mentioned above, the report encompasses various factors that have contributed to the market's growth in recent years.

Report Scope & Segmentation