Abstract
Polyester in the textile industry is frequently mixed with cotton fibers to produce PET-CO blend fabrics, widely used in clothing and home textiles. However, polyester’s slow degradation (up to 400 years) and the production of cotton and PET are related to environmental impacts. Brazil is prominent in the cotton production scenario due to the quality and volume of its production, although of environmental damages and health issues to farmworkers. Blend fibers, being a junction between natural and synthetic ones, carry the impacts of both productions. This study aimed to compare the environmental impacts of pure cotton and PET-CO (blended polyester and cotton) productions. A bibliographic analysis of literature and reports from sectorial organizations was carried out, resulting in data and knowledge about the environmental impacts caused by textile and clothing production related to cotton and polyester-cotton blend and other actions turned to reduce or nullify these impacts towards the circular economy, with emphasis to textile recycling. The adoption of the circular economy needs to be deeply understood so that the textile waste returns to the beginning of the production cycle, as well as the need to improve the production processes to avoid polluting and losses of energy, water, and other resources through actions, such as the correct separation and disposal of waste.
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Source: IEMI (2018)
Source: Adapted from Sustainable Apparel Coalition—SAC (2020b, 2020a)
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The authors gratefully acknowledge CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel of Brazilian Education Ministry).
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The authors, RRS, BC, MUS, NRS, PRBF, and JBR, contributed to the conception and design of the study. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by RRS, BC, MUS, NRS, and PRBF. The first draft of the manuscript was written by RRS and BC, while MUS, NRS, PRBF, and JBR helped with the writing, revision, and translation of the work. Supervision was performed by JBR. All authors, RRS, BC, MUS, NRS, PRBF, and JBR, read and approved the final manuscript.
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Ruschel-Soares, R., Contin, B., Siqueira, M.U. et al. Environmental Impacts of Polyester-Cotton Blend Compared to Cotton Fiber in Brazil. Mater Circ Econ 4, 13 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42824-022-00056-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42824-022-00056-4