Textile recycling is the process of recovering, then reusing or repurposing textile material into useful products. This practice reduces landfill waste, reduces greenhouse gas emissions that occur during fabric incineration, reduces air and water pollution, and provides many other environmental and economic benefits. In Detroit, automotive and clothing manufacturing centers produce a significant amount of textile waste that can be recycled for various purposes. NexTiles, a black-owned, woman-owned company based in Detroit, works to collect and convert these materials into building insulation. We can all affect change in this space by buying fewer pieces of clothing, purchasing quality clothing that lasts longer, and sharing knowledge around the impacts of textile waste.
NexTiles founder: Madeline W. Miller
What do you do to help reduce your contribution to the world’s textile waste? Please share your thoughts and comments below!