Textile recycling is well advanced with a number of operators providing recycling solutions dependent on fabric composition.

Cotton

Currently the option for up-cycling of cotton is only available internationally. Workwear Recycled are consolidating cotton material in the South Island to enable the up-cycling of cotton material to cellulose. This raw product is then able to be used in a wide range of industrial processes including further textile production, paper manufacturing and pharmaceuticals.

Polyester and Polycotton

A huge amount of clothing is able to be recycled into a wide range of downstream products following mechanical destruction. Once prepared eg: zips and buttons removed these products are broken down through an industrial tearing process to create a fine fluffy fibre.

This unique recycled fibre can then be used to create products such as home insulation, couch cushioning, pet beds, wall partitions and acoustic panelling and even Geo textiles.

Complex Fibres

Most textile waste can be dealt with in some way with few exceptions. Even complex mixed fabrics including wool, elastane, spandex, rayon, silk, lyocell and viscose can be recycled. 

We are working with several R&D programs to develop new technology for the disposal of end-of-life clothing currently not easily reused or repurposed. Significant effort is being put into the research and development of practical solutions using end-of-life textile resources to be re-engineered into raw materials.

The PVC Recycle program is an initiative to reduce worn PVC gumboots being disposed of into landfill. The aim is to re-process this waste into the raw materials to create brand new PVC gumboots.

This work is currently underway in NZ, with recycled PVC gumboot material being remade into new footwear products or alternatives such as playground matting.

PVC gumboots from a number of users, are currently being collected at our Timaru site to be consolidated for return and recycling in Lower Hutt.

Recycling of end-of-life work boots is challenging due to the complex mixture of materials and construction technologies. Boots require a degree of destruction to pull apart the constituent parts. No economical solution currently exist for the recycling of leather work boots.

Research is being carried out by several organisations currently, to use the different materials for different purposes.

Mechanical shredding of the entire boot is being trialled, with the separation of materials such as metal, textile, leather and rubber/PVC being done post shredding.

Alternatively, separation of materials is happening prior to shredding and requires a significant degree of manual handling. Leather is being shredded and ground and reconstituted into near leather or leather equivalent products

Rubber/PVC is being shredded and repurposed into a range of products included new shoe soles/inner soles, and also rubber matting for playgrounds and athletics tracks.