Recyclability Potential Index (RPI): The concept and quantification of RPI for textile fibres

Abstract

A focus on recycling is one of the key pillars in this environmentally conscious era. In recent times, the situation is forcing people to recycle everything that are produced due to various factors such as present and future projections of scarcity of potential resources, limited landfill space, governmental policies, rewards in terms of monetary benefits given to people when they return the product for recycling. Textile products, occupying a significant proportion of one's daily activities in almost every place, need to be recycled. Many types of fibres are being used to manufacture textile products for daily use and they necessarily need to be recycled at the end of their lives. The potential recyclability of different fibres varies from one fibre to another and many factors play a major role in deciding their recyclability. This study proposes a concept for the Recyclability Potential Index (RPI) of textile fibres considering their …