Applications of Textile Waste as Reinforcement in Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites for Circularity—A Review

Abstract

Recent transformations in fast-fashion trends and a huge increase in annual clothing consumption (13 kg/person) have resulted in the generation of vast quantities (∼92 million tons/year) of textile waste. The improper management, that is, burning and landfilling, of textile waste releases harmful emissions and causes water and soil contamination. The utilization of textile waste as reinforcement in polymer composites offers a sustainable yet challenging approach for achieving textile materials circularity. While research on textile waste composites is progressing, a critical review analysis examining their current developments, challenges, and future directions is still lacking. This review article discusses different types of textile waste, environmental impacts, and their valorization in fiber-reinforced polymer composites. A critical analysis is presented on waste-based composite development- process optimization, ultimate structural details, mechanical, thermal, water absorption, and biodegradability properties, hybridization techniques, chemical treatments, and improvements in their properties. Furthermore, this review examines their potential applications and discusses the current challenges in advancing their structural and functional performances for emerging applications. Finally, materials circularity, life cycle assessment, integration of artificial intelligence technology, and scalability challenges are addressed to accelerate the transition of lab-scale composites’ development into sustainable and fully circular industrial-scale products.