Most old clothes are burned, leading to wasted materials and environmental harm.

However, researchers in Austria have developed a new method to recycle cotton-based textiles into strong, eco-friendly packaging paper.

This process could significantly reduce textile waste and cut down the need for paper imports.

Austria produces around 220,000 tons of textile waste each year, with nearly 80% of it being incinerated. This results in the loss of valuable raw materials.

A team led by Thomas Harter from the Institute of Bioproducts and Paper Technology has found a way to recover cotton fibers from old clothes and turn them into packaging materials. Compared to traditional recycled paper, this new textile-infused paper is much stronger.

To make paper from used clothes, the fabric is first cut into small pieces and soaked in water. It is then processed in a mill to separate the fibers without causing knots or clumps.

As part of his master’s thesis, Alexander Wagner identified the best methods for this process, including selecting the right machines, processing time, and water-to-textile ratio.

After processing, the result is a suspension similar to traditional paper pulp. This allows the fibers to be transformed into paper using standard manufacturing techniques.

At first glance, the new paper looks like regular recycled paper, though it may have a slightly brownish color with tiny colored specks from the original clothing.

However, these color variations do not affect its use in cardboard and packaging materials.

The addition of textile fibers improves paper strength. Even with just 30% textile content, the recycled paper is significantly stronger than conventional recycled paper, while still being easy to process. This strength comes from the fiber length—textile fibers measure about 1.7 millimeters, which is much longer than those in recycled paper.

The research team is now focused on making the process more energy-efficient. They are testing ways to reduce energy use in fiber processing, including the use of mild chemicals and enzyme treatments to break down fibers more efficiently. The ultimate goal is to scale up production and introduce this recycling method at an industrial level.

By turning discarded clothing into a valuable resource, this breakthrough offers a promising solution to reducing waste and making the paper industry more sustainable.

Source: KSR.