Quantifying textile streams and recycling prospects in Europe by material flow analysis

Textiles represent the fourth highest pressure commodity on a global scale and cause significant environmental, climate and social impacts under resources and waste perspectives. Considering the environmental burdens associated with resources limitations and waste management, the Waste Framework Directive approved by the European Parliament in 2018 has obliged the Member States to collect textiles separately by 2025, supporting circular strategies and environmental sustainability. As to tackle the linear economy model (take-make-waste), the present research applies the material flow analysis to estimate textile waste streams in Europe and to simulate two short-term prospective End-of-Life scenarios. Further, the research calculates the energy and the CO2eq emissions flows according to textiles recycling, incineration with energy recovery or landfilling. As a result, separate collection should be considered as one of the most important pathways to: (a) reduce textile waste streams destined to incineration or landfilling; (b) reduce virgin fibers supplying from the environment; (c) reduce CO2eq emissions associated with the EoL pathways, such as incineration or landfilling. The research contributes to the scarce empirical studies about textile waste management in Europe, providing theoretical and public authorities’ recommendations towards sustainable development.