Comparative energy demand and carbon footprint analysis of textile waste management systems in Australia

In modern societies, especially in developed countries, textile waste management has become a critical issue due to overconsumption and throw-away culture. This case study aims to develop a comprehensive quantitative energy demand and carbon footprint analysis model using CCalC2 software to identify the most sustainable end-of-life management practices for the textile waste in Australia, the second-largest consumers of textile products. Results of this study showed that chemical recycling is the best option from the standpoint of saving pulp production energy and recycled pulp material, while it is a carbon-intensive process (6401 kg CO₂eq/1000 kg). The mechanical recycling process is estimated to emit around 5368 kg CO₂eq/1000 kg — a low CO₂ emitting process. Surprisingly, CO₂ emissions from incineration (e.g., 5897 kg CO₂eq/1000 kg) showed a similar trend of mechanical recycling, and the option of incineration could only be pursued if (thermal) energy recovery and electricity production were considered. This study highlights the requirement for sustainable textile waste management practices and provides valuable insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders for future policy planning around low carbon-intensive technology selection with improved (secondary) material recovery.