Review of Literature: Engineering Sustainability and Textile Recycling

This report provides a review of literature on engineering sustainability within the textile industry, focusing on the Australian context. It begins with an introduction to the textile industry, highlighting its focus on production, design, and distribution of yarns from both natural and synthetic materials. The report identifies key problems faced by the industry, including high costs related to exporting, ineffective waste reduction practices, and health concerns related to cotton dust. It then examines current recycling and collection methods, differentiating between pre-consumer and post-consumer waste, and exploring various recycling techniques like chemical and thermal processes. The report also discusses the socio-economic status of the textile industry in different cities across Australia, emphasizing the importance of resource management and the impact of waste on the environment. It concludes by summarizing the challenges and suggesting the implementation of recycling technologies to reduce environmental impact and improve the industry's sustainability. The report references various sources to support its findings.

ENGINEERING SUSTAINABILITY, TEXTILE RECYCLING,
SUSTAINABILITY INDUSTRY REPORT
STUDENT NAME:
STUDENT ID:
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Table of Contents
3. Review of Literature....................................................................................................................3
3.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................3
3.2 Identification of problems faced by the textile industry........................................................3
3.3 Examination of current recycling and collection methods.....................................................4
3.4 Discussion on the socio-economic status with respect to different cities in Australia..........6
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................8
Reference list...................................................................................................................................9
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3. Review of Literature
3.1 Introduction
The textile industry is primarily focused on production, design and distribution of Yarn by using
natural as well as synthetic raw material. The purpose of this study is to explore different
problems and issues experienced by Australia textile industry so that a better business solution
can be developed. The study sheds light on current recycling and recycling methods in the textile
industry, especially in regional areas in Victoria.
3.2 Identification of problems faced by the textile industry
Australia has a huge market of textile that includes fabric, gents, ladies and ethnic wear, which
generates about 2.5 billion dollar revenue. It is expected that Australia textile industry rises
by4.9% in 2020 according to the report of the Australia Bureau of Statistics. In arguing with the
sustainability of the textile industry, there are ranges of problems or issues in textile industry that
gradually reduces its profit margin such as adoption of new technology, costing and
transportation. One of the biggest challenges for the textile industry is the cost that incurs for
exporting outside country that eventually reduces the profit margin. The primary reason behind
these issues is high traffic, high freight charges and high tariff that brought problem in focusing
on weaving [9]. The second challenge experienced by the textile industry is ineffective practices
for waste reduction that reduce the production level of the company.
Apart from this, cotton dust can cause breathing problem that may harm the health of associate
employees through the exposure to cotton dust. This may lead to fatal disease and respiratory
disorders commonly known as brown lung, which causes tightening of the chest, shortness of
breath and wheezing. The clothing and textile industry has called for a revamp of federal
government policy as pacific brands to sack1800 workers [1]. According to the statement of
executive director of the Council of Textile & Fashion Industries; Ms Kellock, the biggest
problem is trade finance that resists companies to borrow huge inventories [7]. These issues or
problems reduce the progressive development of the company due to ineffective management of
cash flow. These issues or problems are needed to eliminate vigilantly so that adverse effect on
textile can be reduced through proper strategic solution [7]. Similarly, items such as energy
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consumption, use of toxic chemicals, air emission and transportation create a barrier in
enhancing progressive development vigilantly.
3.3 Examination of current recycling and collection methods
Recycling of waste in the textile industry plays an essential role in increasing the level of
production through proper utilisation of resources. Textile waste can be classified as either pre-
consumed or post consumers waste in which pre- consumers waste refers to by-product materials
from the cotton industries and textile fibre. On the other hand, post-consumer waste is defined as
any clothes or garment which is discarded or no needs for others.
Figure 1: Waste generation in Australia
(Source: [6])
In 2014-15, the production of waste in Australia was about 64 million tonnes of debris, which is
relevant to 2.7 tonnes of waste per capita. There are ranges of methods of textile waste that
includes yard trimming, food scraps, paper and glass.
Consumption of resources Quantity
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pesticides 0.02 lbs
Water 2,400 gal
Fertilizers 0.55 lbs
CO2 Emission 16.3 lbs
Table 1: consumption of resources during T-shit manufacturing
Figure 2: Waste generation in Victoria
(Source: [8])
In textile industry, recycling of plastic is an effective way to achieve sustainable development by
proper utilisation of resources. There are different ways of recycling, especially for plastic
because it cannot be decomposed easily; some recycling techniques have been listed below:
Method sorting Applied for Remarks
Chemical Required Any products It is considered as
economic recovery
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technologies
Material required Plastic or fibre This recycling
technique needs to
utilised in a proper
way to ensure that
financial performance
of company can be
enhanced positively
Thermal Not necessary Electric power
Local heating
This recycling
technique is efficient
and reliable for the
recovery system.
Table 2: Different recycling technologies
These recycling techniques are needed to implement vigilantly to assure that production and
financial performance of the company can be improved gradually. Presently, commercial textile
recycling involves breaking down of fabric that is later used in the form of spunk back out into
new yarns. In natural fibre such wool and cotton, the material is blended, combed and shredded
then it is spun into yarn. In the regional area of Victoria such as Ballarat and Geelong, about 35%
of textile companies are using the chemical and thermal process as recycling methods [2]. The
material such as polyester, fabric and synthetic are shredded, which is formed into pellets and
plastic [8]. The develop pellets and plastics have to go through different waste management
techniques that increase the reliability and sustainability of the company.
On the contrary, resource recovery is considered as one of the significant importance elements of
recycling techniques in textile industry that facilitates utilising available resources and products
in all possible ways that eventually increase the profit of the business. It enforced management to
implement innovative techniques to dispose of plastic in order to reduce the adverse effect on the
environment. This approach of recycling technique helps in saving natural resources and save
space in a landfill.
3.4 Discussion on the socio-economic status with respect to different cities in Australia
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Socio-economicc state of textile industry with respect to the management of resources is
essential to make sure available resource or capital can be utilized in a systematic way. Australia
supplies an average of 27 kilograms of new textiles each year send by Aussies, which is
approximately 85% of textiles to landfill. The company needs to use recycle bins within their
workplace and store. It can be helpful for the company to recycle waste products through
recycling bins. Moreover, the company needs to suggest their employees and customers throw
their wastage to recycle bins rather than a dustbin [5]. The organization can use balers in order to
reduce the size of recyclables or waste products in order to run the recycling process easily.
Figure 3: Social and ecological challenges in Textile Industry
(Source: [2])
The above figure implies that textile is one of the hazardous engineering that pollutes water base
extensively. It creates an adverse impact on society in different ways which have been
highlighted. One of the major advantages of recycling techniques is a reduction in wastage so
that the financial performance of an organization can be improved as far as possible
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Figure 4: Economic status of textile industry in different territory
(Source: [4])
The above figure signifies the effective utilisation of resources and reduction in waste that
gradually improve the economic performance of textile industry. The implementation of
innovative technologies in waste management helps in enhancing sustainable growth of textile
industry. The economy of different regions in Australia has been highlighted above that help in
explore economic impact of recycle techniques [3]. In 2008-09, the gross state product of
Western Australia that is about 6.8% that implies that there is a necessity of proper planning and
strategy for resource management for sustainable development of the company [6]. Apart from
Western Australia, textile companies in Queensland are also benefited through proper resources.
The environmental impact of textile waste ending up on landfill is helpful in reducing the
adverse effect on the environment. It controls the industrial pollution produced during
manufacturing process that effects the environment. About 38% of textile companies in Australia
are implementing environment policies and regulations that help in control wastage of products
by adapting new method of plastic recycling.
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Conclusion
The report can be concluded that there are ranges of problems and issues in the textile industry
that needs to tackle vigilantly to reduce the adverse impact on the environment. One of the most
significant concerns for the textile industry is the cost that incurs for exporting outside country
that eventually reduces the profit margin. Recycling techniques or technologies are needed to
implement vigilantly to assure that available resource can be utilised in a systematic way.
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Reference list
[1] A. Ali, and M. Haseeb, Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology as a strategic tool
towards higher performance of supply chain operations in textile and apparel industry of
Malaysia. Uncertain Supply Chain Management, 7(2), pp.215-226 2019
[2] A. Erdil, and E. Taçgın, Potential Risks and Their Analysis of the Apparel & Textile Industry
in Turkey: A Quality-Oriented Sustainability Approach. Fibres & Textiles in Eastern Europe
2018
[3] Abc.net.au (2019), Australian Textile Industry [Online]. Available:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2019-06-15/textile-recycling-fashion-old-clothes-waste/
11197904 [Accessed on 30 July 019]
[4] Australianweaving.com.au (2019), Australian Textile Industry [Online]. Available:
http://www.australianweaving.com.au/2018/02/28/australian-textile-industry-growth-potential/
[Accessed on 30 July 019]
[5] Environment.gov.au (2019), Australian Textile Industry [Online]. Available:
https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/d075c9bc-45b3-4ac0-a8f2-
6494c7d1fa0d/files/national-waste-report-2016.pdf [Accessed on 30 July 019]
[6] K.L. Lee, M.G. Hassan and Z. Mohamed Udin, The contribution of supply chain technology
in Malaysian textile and apparel industry. Journal of Advanced Management Science 2016
[7] N. Oelze, Sustainable supply chain management implementation–enablers and barriers in the
textile industry. Sustainability, 9(8), p.1435 2017
[8] Replas.com.au (2019), Australian Textile Industry [Online]. Available:
https://www.replas.com.au/recycling/ [Accessed on 30 July 019]
[9] Textilefocus.com (2019), Australian Textile Industry [Online]. Available:
http://textilefocus.com/sustainability-textile-industry-reality-challenges/ [Accessed on 30 July
019]
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