{"id":12181,"date":"2024-07-10T11:44:57","date_gmt":"2024-07-10T11:44:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.restore.co.uk\/datashred\/?p=12181"},"modified":"2025-09-01T14:27:21","modified_gmt":"2025-09-01T14:27:21","slug":"textile-shredding-at-the-ready","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.restore.co.uk\/datashred\/textile-shredding-at-the-ready\/","title":{"rendered":"Textile shredding at the ready\u2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

New textile mountain range discovered in Chilean desert\u2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

OK, so that\u2019s not quite true. But it is true that there\u2019s a 100,000-tonne fast fashion landfill dump in Chile\u2019s once pristine Atacama Desert that\u2019s doing a pretty good impersonation of a mountain range.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\r\n
\r\n\t

The cost of fast fashion<\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

This was in the news and offered a shocking insight into some of the costs of fast fashion. Apparently, the garments are manufactured in China and Bangladesh, destined for the US market. Many of the items still have their labels on but have already reached the end of their shelf life after just a few weeks. They are \u2018old\u2019 stock.<\/p>\n

Europe does not get off scot-free, either. In a recent survey from sustainable menswear fashion label, LABFRESH, figures reveal that every year in the UK we produce 206,456 tonnes of textile waste. Each of us throws away 3.1kg of textiles, of which 1.7kg go straight to landfill, and 0.3kg are recycled. Italy has the dubious honour of being the \u2018least sustainable\u2019 European country in terms of fashion waste, with its very own textile mountain of 465,925 tonnes thrown away every year. Textile recycling rates are low, averaging at around 10% across the European countries surveyed, including the UK.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n<\/section>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"row<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\r\n
\r\n\t

It doesn\u2019t have to be like this!<\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

Textiles are hugely energy- and resource-intensive to manufacture. Products include fast fashion, prototypes and samples, fake and counterfeit goods, marketing materials and uniforms \u2013 garments that all carry the need to maintain a security cordon around them to avoid scammers and fraudsters from misusing them. Yet none of these need to go to landfill because many can be recycled \u2013 either by re-using the garments through the second-hand trade or re-using the materials from which they are manufactured.<\/p>\n

With sustainability no longer a \u2018nice to have\u2019, but rather an essential item on any company\u2019s agenda, recycling your stocks of textiles brings massive benefits to the world about us, as well as to your ESG goals, and your business reputation.<\/p>\n<\/section>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"pile<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\r\n
\r\n\t

The benefits of textile recycling<\/a><\/h3>\n

\u2013 reduces the need for landfill space
\n\u2013 reduces pressure on resources (people, fossil fuels\u2026)
\n\u2013 reduces pollution
\n\u2013 reduces water and energy consumption
\n\u2013 reduces the use of chemical pollutants (dyes and fixers)
\n\u2013 reduces the risk of fraud or misrepresentation<\/p>\n

What can be recycled?<\/h3>\n

– Whole garments or items
\n– Natural fibres, such as wool, cotton and silk (!)
\n– Synthetic textiles such as polyester, nylon, rayon, and so on
\n– Mixed natural\/synthetic fibres<\/p>\n<\/section>\r\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"pile<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\r\n
\r\n\t

How does textile recycling work?<\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

A shredding company, like Restore Datashred, will sort textiles into natural and synthetic materials, by colour and whether there are buttons, zips or any decorations to remove. Colour-sorted textiles will mean no-redyeing is needed, thus saving energy, water and avoiding the use of further pollutants. Once shredded, textiles have a number of different routes and destinations to being recycled, with several types of benefits.<\/p>\n

\u2013> Natural materials that are shredded and pulled into fibres and then spun into eco-yarns can be used in weaving and knitting into textiles for re-manufacture.
\n\u2013> Some knitted or woven woollen materials are shredded, compressed and re-used for car insulation, roofing felt, panel linings and furniture padding, for example.
\n\u2013> Polyester-based textiles are shredded and then granulated for processing into polyester chips. These chips are subsequently melted and used to create new fibres for new polyester fabrics.
\n\u2013> And, finally, for textiles whose fibres or constituent parts cannot be reclaimed, they are shredded, dried, baled and sent for further processing to become refuse-derived fuel, ie, they are burned to produce electricity.<\/p>\n<\/section>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Safe<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\r\n
\r\n\t

We are serious about shredding and caring for the environment, so for all your textile shredding needs, make us your first stop.<\/p>\n

1. As a part of our textile shredding service<\/a>, we guarantee that we will not send any textile shreds to landfill but, instead, will ensure they are all sent for recycling here in the UK.
\n2. We\u2019re accredited to operate at high security levels, so will protect your textiles, whether they are overs, old stock, fast fashion, slow fashion, uniforms, eg, medical, security guards, armed forces, ensuring they are safe from fraud and scams associated with identity and intellectual property theft.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve got 11 shredding centres around the country, a large fleet and hungry state-of-the-art shredding machines \u2013 why not give one of our friendly, knowledgeable teams a call to discuss how to move on your own textile mini-mountain or find out.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\r\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\r\n
\r\n\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Recent News<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"w-100\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDocument shredding best practices: The do\u2019s and don\u2019ts<\/h5>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDocument shredding is crucial when it comes to protecting your business’s sensitive information.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFind out more<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"w-100\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHookload of things going on at Restore Datashred!<\/h5>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThere’s a whole lot of hauling happening here at Restore Datashred! As a nationwide business, we’re always thriving with activity.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFind out more<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"w-100\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRestore Datashred charges into the future with electric vehicles!<\/h5>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRestore Datashred is revving up for a sustainable future with the arrival of our first electric vehicles (EVs)! These zero-emission heroes will be hitting the streets of London.\n<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFind out more<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/section>\n\n\r\n

\r\n\t
\r\n\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t