Business Sectors
Textiles & Clothing
Caroline Bartlett BSc (Hons) 
Textiles and clothing have been identified as having significant environmental impact across their lifecycle. In the UK we consume approximately 2m tonnes of clothing, and although about 0.5m tonnes are recycled or reused, we still dispose of about 1m tonnes. Europeans generate around 14m tonnes of textile waste of which 5m tonnes are recovered: three quarters of this is reused, typically for wear in other countries, or recycled, mainly as wipers and in industrial applications. We need to start creating innovative, added-value applications for recycled textiles and making desirable products out of recycled post-consumer materials.
Re-inventing technologies Read more
There is substantial interest in using alternative fibres (like hemp, flax or ramie) that can show environmental benefits over a garment’s life-cycle, but there is a severe lack of reliable data in this area. We also want to develop opportunities around the ‘re-invention’ of traditional fibres such as wool.
One area Oakdene Hollins is actively working in is the reinvention of technologies (click for more information). Reinvention is revisiting past ideas which have been forgotten or abandoned, but have now become relevant once more. Our work with the TSB and ESRC has established that reinvention is an significant source of technologies for meeting today’s sustainability challenges.
Aligning legislation Read more
The way legislation defines textiles which have been disposed - either as waste or as raw material - differs from state to state in Europe, and this can lead to trade difficulties. Similarly, specifications of textile recyclates can be very loose and are prone to different interpretations.
Oakdene Hollins has worked with non-woven researchers and textile recyclers to address these issues, and to quantify the environmental and carbon benefits of textile reuse and recycling. Read more
For example we have spoken at a number of workshops on sustainable fashion in Sweden, and have helped the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research to develop the scope of their proposed research competition.
Oakdene Hollins has developed a leading position across Europe in sustainable textiles, particularly in their recycling and reuse. The Uniform Reuse website will act as a resource to educate and create awareness of the opportunities which exist to reuse and recycle corporatewear and therefore reduce the amount sent to landfill each year.
Selected Publications
Review of Life Cycle Assessments of Clothing (pub. Oct 2010)
Maximising Reuse and Recycling of UK Clothing and Textiles: Report (pub. Dec 2009)
Maximising Reuse and Recycling of UK Clothing and Textiles: Summary (pub. Oct 2009)
Oakdene Hollins investigates carbon footprint of textile recycling business (pub. Sept 2009)
Assessment of CO2 emissions from used textiles reprocessing (pub. June 2009)
Clothing Take-Back for Recycling and Reuse: A Japanese Insight (pub. Nov 2007)
Recycling of Low Grade Clothing Waste (pub. Nov 2006)
