Recycled cotton

Recycled cotton can be broadly defined as the conversion of a cotton fabric into cotton fiber that can be reused in textile products. It also refers to recycled cotton as regenerated cotton, reclaimed cotton, or linters. Recycled material includes recycled raw material, as well as used, refurbished and remanufactured components.

Textile recycling is generated from two primary sources:

•Pre-consumer: includes waste arising from yarn or fabric by-products.

•Post-consumer: includes garments, upholstery, towels, household items to be reoriented in their use.

The largest volume source of recycled cotton is produced through pre-consumer waste, such as cutting waste. Post-consumer waste is more difficult to get around due to the various shades of colors, fabric mixes and is generally a more labor-intensive process.

The amount of energy, water, and dyes used is reduced by using a product that has already been processed. 

Savings are achieved by compensating for the production of new materials. Since the most common recycled cotton yarns are obtained from pre-consumer textile waste that is sorted by color, the yarns are already dyed.

Recycled cotton can find a new life in different lower-grade products such as insulation, rags and filling material.

The recycling process can redirect many products that would go to landfills. According to the Council for Textile Recycling, annual textile waste is estimated at 11 billion kilograms.