Balancing textile waste recovery technologies from the environmental, economic, and technological perspectives

Textile waste recovery is essential for mitigating environmental impacts and conserving resources in the textile industry. This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the environmental, economic, and technological trade-offs of nine textile waste recovery technologies for waste cotton, polyester, polyester-cotton blends, and mixed textile waste in China. By integrating life cycle assessment, life cycle costing, and the VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje method, this study provides a methodology framework to balance conflicting objectives. The results showed that chemical recovery led to higher costs but made greater revenue, whereas mechanical and physical recovery demonstrated higher technological maturity and material retention, with lower energy consumption and waste generation. In addition, mechanical and physical recovery achieved the most significant reductions in global warming potential, energy consumption, human health damage, and resource consumption. Based on environmental, economic, and technological trade-offs, it is hold that mechanical recovery is the most balanced option for waste cotton, physical recovery is the more stable solution for waste polyester, refuse derived fuel (RDF) production is the optimal choice for mixed textile waste, and chemical recovery is more suitable for polyester-cotton. These findings suggest that optimizing textile waste recovery in China could annually save of approximately 25 million tons of CO₂ emissions, 1 billion cubic meters of fresh water, and 23 thousand tons of fossil fuel. The important implications are that a refined recycling network and material flow should be set up for all kinds of textile wastes, and RDF standards should be established in China and regulate the usage ratio in energy facilities and cement plants, so as to enhance mixed textile waste recovery. The study would provide novel insights into the trade-offs among various recovery pathways, and practical guidance for policymakers and related stakeholders in designing sustainable textile waste strategies.