Textile Recycling Market Size – By Source, Technology, Material, Waste, End Use Analysis, Share, Growth Forecast, 2025- 2034

Report ID: GMI5569
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Published Date: November 2024
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Report Format: PDF

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Textile Recycling Market Size

The global textile recycling market was valued at USD 6 billion in 2024 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of over 4.9% from 2025 to 2034. Recycling of clothing refers to an approach that strives to minimize wastage while maintaining preservation of textiles. The treatment and reorganization of fabric used in making different products touch on this undertaking.
 

Textile Recycling Market

As there is a surge of interest in eco fashion, the global textile recycling market is also evolving. In the present scenario, people prefer brands that are sustainable. So, with increasing market demand, there is also an increase in need for recycled textiles which are comparatively less harmful to the environment. In the past few years there has been an advancement in recycling technology which has allowed the easier processing of a new range of recycled textiles, from natural fibers to synthetics. Enhanced recycling technologies allow better retrieval of quality yarn which helps in the making of recycled goods making them ideal for manufacturers and environment-friendly consumers.

In current time, there are more people who are now conscious of the diverse waste around them due to which there are increasing calls of responsible disposal of clothing and use of textiles. Many people are aware about recycling after campaigning and cause-oriented efforts by the government and the industry. The result of this will be an increasing demand for recycling and ultimately leading to further growth of the textile recycling industry. All these factors interrelate, in one way or another: the progress of recycling technology attracts consumers, which further drives the development of the sustainable fashion industry and the market.
 

Textile Recycling Market Trends

New innovations in policy and consumer habits are shifting the landscape of the global market. For instance, new methods of recycling synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon are emerging as game changers in this sphere. Eco-consciousness is prompting big businesses to seek out and utilize recycled materials while urging clientele to repair and resale apparel. In a bid to tackle international textile waste, various governments are enforcing stricter regulations on the clientele, and in turn, making manufacturers ensure responsible management of old fabrics. Increasing collaboration between clothing brands, clothing recyclers, and technology suppliers in an attempt to enhance the textile recycling process is also common. All these trends result in the integration of recycling into the value chain of textiles and their ecological sustainability.
 

Textile Recycling Market Analysis

The efficiency and scalability of the textile recycling industry has suffered setbacks as a result of elevated costs related to the collection, sorting and processing of the textiles. Highly trained professionals alongside specialized technology is required for separating various fabric types, thus increasing the processing costs. Effective sorting is essential for optimizing the recycling process, however since it requires a lot of investment, it increases the operational costs and deems large scale recycling unrealistic. As a result, the amalgamation of these factors provide the ambition by developing an adequate functional recycling chain.
 

The applications of recycled fibers are especially limited in the garment and upholstery industry due to the lower endurance and aesthetic appeal they possess in relation to glimpse new fibers. It is generic for recycled fabrics to lose their strength and texture, further exacerbating their limited use in premium products. Hence, many manufacturers prefer virgin materials for adequate quality assurance as a result the demand for such products declines. To meet these challenges, investment in both sorting technology and fiber recovery will help increase the quality of recycled textiles, which will further eliminate the need for virgin materials.
 

Textile Recycling Market Size, By Source, 2021-2034 (USD Billion)

The textile recycling market is divided into apparel waste, home furnishing waste and others. In 2023, the apparel waste segment led the market at USD 3.3 billion. This sales is attributed to the considerable amount of post-consumer apparel waste received as a result of fast fashion cycles combined with the increased global market consumption. Moreover, both consumers and brands are increasingly concerned about the adverse consequences of apparel recycling, making it an essential aspect of textile recycling. Home furnishing waste and other segments are also present however they are of minor significance, having longer replacement cycles and fewer options for recycling. The resilience of the apparel sector adds to its strong competitive advantage in the market.
 

Textile Recycling Market Revenue Share, By Technology, (2024)

The technology segment is divided into two categories which include mechanical and chemical recycling, based on the technology used. The segment of mechanical recycling topped the textile recycling market in 2024 accounting for 68.8% market share. The process of mechanically shredding fibers and re-spinning, for instance, is many times more appealing due to lower costs as compared to chemically recycling. It is also most often used by manufacturers dealing with cotton, wool, and polyester fabrics. Even though chemical recycling has the capability to disintegrate and re-engineer synthetic fibers on a molecular level, its prohibitive expenses and capacity restraints greatly limit the scope of its application. Therefore, the market’s growth is powered by a surge in the mechanical recycling segment.
 

The segmentation of the market is according to different materials and under this classification, the market is sub-divided into polyester, cotton, nylon, wool, and others. In 2023, polyester leads with a revenue of USD 2.9 billion which is generated due to its extensive application in fast fashion and sportswear. Due to being one of the most commonly used synthetic fibers, huge amounts of textile waste is generated and this makes polyester a prime target for recycling. Nowadays, rPET is very popular among eco-friendly consumers and brands because it is used for making sustainable clothes and lowers the amount of plastic waste.
 

With regards to waste, the market classification is made of pre-consumer waste and post-consumer waste.  Because of the increasing post-production waste of factory outlets which include non-consumables and non-conforming products to the quality standards has stimulated the collaboration of companies that has enhanced the growth of this segment for market.
 

Distribution according to the end-user segment includes the following sectors  which includes clothing, home textiles, fabrics, building and construction industry, automotive and transport, etc. The clothing sector accounting for 52.9% of the share in 2024 takes the lead in the f textile recycling market. This is attributed to the surge in the use of recycled textiles in eco-friendly clothing. As customers look for more environmentally friendly attire, brands are incorporating higher proportions of recycled materials, primarily in casual and sportswear. Similar changes are taking place in the context of the fashion industry moving towards circularity, wherein older clothes get remade into newer outfits.
 

U.S. Textile Recycling Market Size, 2021-2034 (USD Billion)

U.S. textile recycling market constituted USD 1.1 billion in 2024, and this is mainly facilitated by the shifting consumer tendencies and demand for onetime mandatory clothing. The government has taken measures directed at curbing waste and leading clients to sustainable methods of doing garments’ business which complemented multiple garment recycling measures. The innovations in mechanical and chemical recycling have enhanced both quality and value of stripped fabric and in so doing, boosted the growth of the market.
 

The textile recycling market is predominantly owned by the U.S. and the rest of North America, mostly due to the robust collection and processing of waste infrastructure that this region possesses. This particular region has benefitted largely from the additional funding received from fashion retailers, which in return has led to their investment in sustainable practices and green cities. Canada on a smaller level has assisted as well by growing interest in sustainable clothing along with the growing circular economy. All in all, North America holds a crucial role in textile recycling on a global scale due to it having pre-existing recycling systems, policies and infrastructure in place.
 

Textile Recycling Market Share

Partaho and Lenzing are competing against each other in the global textile recycling industry, albeit utilizing different strategies to do so. In this scenario, the competition appears to be quite fierce in the sense that businesses are encouraging diversity through the implementation of innovative recycling technologies, product durability and sustainability measures. Some such indicators are environmentally aware consumers and brands that are willing to work with high quality recycled materials that are as close to virgin materials as possible.
 

Furthermore, companies are collaborating with one another to increase the final sale and distribution of recycled textiles, in turn satisfying growing demand with the added bonus of affordability. There are many industries like automotive, apparel and home furnishing ready, but the pricing remains a challenge, especially since recycled textiles tend to be more expensive. So, companies have no other option but to cut costs further to improve efficiency in production.
 

Textile Recycling Market Companies

Major players operating in the textile recycling industry are:

  • BLS Ecotech
  • iinouiio
  • Leigh Fibers
  • Lenzing
  • Martex Fiber
  • Patagonia
  • Pistoni S.r.l.
  • RE TEXTIL Deutschland
  • Renewcell
  • Textile Recycling International
  • Unifi 
  • Worn Again Technologies
     

Textile Recycling Industry News

  • In November 2024; A joint project of the Salvation Army Trading Company and Project Plan B was nominated for the Plastics Industry Awards 2024 in the category "Recycler of the Year" in Australia. ISEC evo technology provided by PURE LOOP was used as the first polyester textile recycling system in Europe.
     
  • In October 2024: Birla Cellulose under Aditya Birla Group collaborated with Circ, to boost the output of recycled fiber by buying over 5,000 tons of Circ's pulp per year for five years on the aim of scaling up recycling of textiles and development of new technology for sustainable fashion.
     

The textile recycling market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry, with estimates & forecast in terms of revenue (USD Billion) & volume (Kilo Tons) from 2021 to 2034, for the following segments:

Market, By Source

  • Apparel waste
  • Home furnishing waste
  • Others

Market, By Technology  

  • Mechanical recycling
  • Chemical recycling

Market, By Material

  • Polyester
  • Cotton
  • Nylon
  • Wool
  • Others

Market, By Waste

  • Pre-Consumer waste
  • Post-Consumer waste

Market, By End Use

  • Apparel
  • Home furnishing
  • Fabrics
  • Building & construction
  • Automotive & transportation
  • Others

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:

  • North America
    • U.S.
    • Canada
  • Europe
    • UK
    • Germany
    • France
    • Italy
    • Spain
    • Russia
  • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • India
    • Japan
    • South Korea
    • Australia 
  • Latin America
    • Brazil
    • Mexico
  • MEA
    • UAE
    • Saudi Arabia
    • South Africa

 

Authors: Kiran Pulidindi, Kunal Ahuja
Frequently Asked Question(FAQ) :
Who are the major players in the textile recycling industry?
Major players in the industry include BLS Ecotech, iinouiio, Leigh Fibers, Lenzing, Martex Fiber, Patagonia, Pistoni S.r.l., RE TEXTIL Deutschland, Renewcell, and Textile Recycling International.
What is the market share of the apparel waste segment in the textile recycling industry?
How much is the U.S. textile recycling market worth?
How big is the global textile recycling market?
Textile Recycling Market Scope
  • Textile Recycling Market Size
  • Textile Recycling Market Trends
  • Textile Recycling Market Analysis
  • Textile Recycling Market Share
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    Base Year: 2024

    Companies covered: 12

    Tables & Figures: 240

    Countries covered: 18

    Pages: 220

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