The recycling rate of post-consumer apparel waste is low. This is compounded by our limited understanding of the fibre recovered from apparel waste and a lack of development in novel applications. Motivated by the growing rate of accumulation in unwanted clothing, this study focused on a number of integrated research themes aimed at understanding the nature of reclaimed cotton fibre, its use in paper-based materials and its utilisation in apparel related applications. Initially, the investigation characterised reclaimed cotton fibres from two different recovery machines (pinned air-layer and cutting mill). The results showed that neither process was capable of producing adequate fibre quality for fine yarn manufacture. The fibres exhibited extensive surface damage, length shortening and an increase in length distribution. After the initial characterisation, studies were undertaken to investigate the use of paper technology to increase the possibility of using reclaimed fibre in apparel. Strength is an important property in apparel related applications, therefore, the strength of reclaimed cotton-based paper was enhanced. The effects of a 4% sodium hydroxide pre-treatment on the beating performance and resultant sheet properties of reclaimed fibre pulp were investigated. At low beating levels, the results showed a significant 35% and 39% increase in tensile strength and energy absorption, respectively. With the treatment it is, therefore, possible to obtain a strong paper with high bulk, which can be further utilised to improve surface softness. Optimum dry and wet strength enhancement of the resultant paper was obtained with the combined addition of 1% carboxymethyl cellulose and 2% polyamideamine-epichlorhydrin. The development of wet strength was vital in order to facilitate uniform twist insertion in subsequent paper yarn manufacture. This study was one of the first to test the viability of using reclaimed cotton fibre in the production of paper yarns suitable for apparel manufacture. The wet-strengthened reclaimed-fibre paper was slit into 3 mm width ribbons, dampened, then twisted into yarns. The resultant yarns (46–193 tex) were uniform but lacked sufficient strength for use in weaving and knitting processes. Analysis of a commercial paper yarn, OJO+ , suggested that strength could be improved if fibre orientation was increased in the machine direction. A further application, in the form of a jacket, was trialled. The focus here was to test sewability using a variety of seam and stitch formations to sew together denim-derived cotton paper. A simple design using lap seams with straight stitching was established as the most effective construction. The final jacket satisfied industry requirements on seam strength and efficiency, however, further investigation into improving comfort and wear-ability will be essential.

Este trabalho avaliou aspectos ambientais, culturais, econômicos, de segurança, sociais e tecnológicos da reciclagem de plástico pós-consumo na região metropolitana de Porto Alegre (RMPA). Os objetivos específicos são: (i) obter um panorama da reciclagem do plástico pós-consumo na RMPA; (ii) identificar benefícios e custos da cadeia de reciclagem do plástico pós-consumo; (iii) identificar problemas, causas e oportunidades relacionadas à triagem dos materiais recicláveis, à reciclagem e transformação de plástico pós-consumo na RMPA. Devido à falta de dados completos mais recentes, o panorama foi construído utilizando dados de 2010 (base de dados governamental e planos municipais de gestão integrada de resíduos sólidos). Entrevistas com atores da triagem de materiais recicláveis, comercialização de sucata plástica, reciclagem e transformação do plástico pós-consumo constituíram o segundo procedimento metodológico na coleta de dados. Foi apresentado um panorama considerando a coleta de resíduos recicláveis e sua triagem, a comercialização, reciclagem e processamento do plástico pós-consumo na RMPA. Não foram encontrados dados de RSU para seis cidades que compunham a RMPA, correspondentes a 9% de sua população. Desta forma estima-se que 91% da população geraram 255.712 toneladas de materiais recicláveis (41% de plásticos), que 22% dos plásticos foram reciclados e que 202.864 toneladas de materiais recicláveis foram enviadas para aterros. Além disto, foi verificado que existiam significativas diferenças de políticas ambientas e de eficiência na reciclagem entre as cidades avaliadas. Para o ano de 2010, cálculos econômicos demonstraram benefícios de R$ 32 milhões na reciclagem do plástico, descontados o custo da coleta seletiva e a manutenção dos centros de triagem. Adicionalmente, foi verificado existir capacidade ociosa nas recicladoras de plástico no Rio Grande do Sul. Considerando que dezoito cidades (81% da população) recuperaram somente 19% dos materiais recicláveis gerados na região através da triagem da coleta seletiva ou bruta, as prováveis causas do envio de grande quantidade de materiais recicláveis para o aterro são a baixa eficiência da população ao separar em casa os resíduos recicláveis dos demais resíduos e a baixa taxa de participação da população na coleta seletiva. Ainda faltava implantar coleta seletiva em dezesseis cidades da RMPA. Entretanto, o aumento na frequência da coleta seletiva poderia aumentar o índice de participação na maioria das cidades e o aumento do pessoal na triagem de coleta bruta poderia aumentar a recuperação de recicláveis. Além disto, R$ 150 milhões seria o benefício por reciclar 89.837 toneladas de materiais recicláveis enviados para o aterro em 2010. / This work aims to address environmental, cultural, economic, safe, social and technological aspects involved in the recycling scene of post-consumer plastics in the Porto Alegre Metropolitan Area (RMPA). The specific goals are to identify: (i) benefits and costs of sorting recyclable materials and recycling plastics; (ii) problems, causes and opportunities related to sorting of recyclable materials and post-consumer plastic recycling and processing in the RMPA. Owing to the lack of a more recent complete data base for the RMPA, the recycling scene was built from 2010 data (from integrated waste management plans and Brazilian government database). Interviews with actors involved in the post-consumer plastic recycling of the region were the second collection method used. The recycling scene in the region has been presented, considering collection, sorting, trading, transportation, mechanical recycling and re-processing. Municipal solid waste (MSW) data was not found for six cities, corresponding to 9% of the RMPA population. According to this study estimations, 91% of the RMPA population generated 255,712 tonnes of recyclable materials (41% of plastics), 22% of plastics were mechanically recycled and 202,864 tonnes of recyclable materials (44% of plastics) were sent to landfill sites. Furthermore, it was verified that there are significant differences of policies and recycling efficiency among the cities of the RMPA. For the year of 2010, economic calculations demonstrated benefits of R$32 million in plastic recycling, discounted the cost of the selective collection and sorting facilities maintenance. Additionally, it was verified that there is a surplus capacity in recycling companies of the region. Considering that 81% of the RMPA population (18 cities) recovered through selective collection only 19% of existing recyclable material in municipal solid waste, low efficiency in sorting recyclable waste at home and low participation rate of population in selective collection may be considered the primary causes of the problem related to the large amount of plastics arriving at the landfill in the RMPA. However, the increase in the selective collection frequency could also contribute to improve the participation rate in most cities of the region. Besides, R$150 million would be the benefit for recycling 89,837 tonnes of plastics, which were sent to landfill.

The current waste management system of Post Consumer Textile Waste (PCTW) in Sweden leads to vast amounts of incinerated or exported textiles. The amount of PCTW reused or repurposed within the country is small in comparison to the amounts of textile products consumed every year. Hence, there is an observed problem in terms of low value creation from textile waste. A system that allows for more textiles to be kept and reused in Sweden could create more economic value in a resource-efficient way. Hence, the purpose of this thesis is to investigate value creation from PCTW for reuse and redesign in Sweden, and to establish a framework for the antecedents of value creation in reverse textile value chains. A pre-study was conducted to map the PCTW industry structure, and served as the basis for sampling cases. Data collection consisted of multiple case studies from 4 charity organisations, 3 clothing brands and 3 redesign brands. The interviews were performed in a semi-structured manner in order to discover the state-of-art in value creation and to identify the key enabling attributes. The findings were analysed to adjust the deductive framework to the textile industry context. Results and findings shows that the state-of-art for value creation among the selected cases varies depending on its mission. Charity organisations are facing a new competition of resources from clothing brands, who have realised a potential of new differentiation by engaging in value creation from PCTW. This has led to a new mind-set among the charity organisations to work more strategically in all their activities. Redesign brands are a relatively new actor and want to work symbolically with redesign to communicate the values in textile materials. Enablers and disablers to value creation from PCTW were found in the interviews and led to the development of an empirical framework. As a whole, this thesis provides rich descriptions of the current preconditions and challenges within the field. Furthermore, it presents a framework for the antecedents of value creation along the recovery processes involved in reuse and redesign value chain. The empirical framework confirms the themes in the theoretical framework, and concludes that there is a set of generic antecedents for value creation in reverse textile value chains. However, there are also category specific antecedents, which need to be considered. The specific experiences of one actor category might as well be valuable knowledge to another, which is why increased collaboration is suggested to enhance value creation from PCTW.

The primary aim of this practice based project is to promote debate and alter perceptions of second-hand materials and ReFashion concepts. The work is positioned between the developed world business model extremes of overproduction, and over-consumption, in clothing manufacture. Practical work which represents 80% of this thesis, pitches discarded clothing as an untapped commodity. The investigation poses questions and possibilities with respect to applying the ReFashion concept to a potential business model. By developing prototypes through deconstruction and reconstruction processes, reflection upon current practices of the secondary textile industry has been possible, highlighting ReFashion as a potential ‘Materials Recovery’ process. The second outcome for the research is to provide contextualised information for the fashion manufacturing industry and government agencies, in order to develop innovative applications for new markets.

The primary aim of this practice based project is to promote debate and alter perceptions of second-hand materials and ReFashion concepts. The work is positioned between the developed world business model extremes of overproduction, and over-consumption, in clothing manufacture. Practical work which represents 80% of this thesis, pitches discarded clothing as an untapped commodity. The investigation poses questions and possibilities with respect to applying the ReFashion concept to a potential business model. By developing prototypes through deconstruction and reconstruction processes, reflection upon current practices of the secondary textile industry has been possible, highlighting ReFashion as a potential ‘Materials Recovery’ process. The second outcome for the research is to provide contextualised information for the fashion manufacturing industry and government agencies, in order to develop innovative applications for new markets.

Este trabalho avaliou aspectos ambientais, culturais, econômicos, de segurança, sociais e tecnológicos da reciclagem de plástico pós-consumo na região metropolitana de Porto Alegre (RMPA). Os objetivos específicos são: (i) obter um panorama da reciclagem do plástico pós-consumo na RMPA; (ii) identificar benefícios e custos da cadeia de reciclagem do plástico pós-consumo; (iii) identificar problemas, causas e oportunidades relacionadas à triagem dos materiais recicláveis, à reciclagem e transformação de plástico pós-consumo na RMPA. Devido à falta de dados completos mais recentes, o panorama foi construído utilizando dados de 2010 (base de dados governamental e planos municipais de gestão integrada de resíduos sólidos). Entrevistas com atores da triagem de materiais recicláveis, comercialização de sucata plástica, reciclagem e transformação do plástico pós-consumo constituíram o segundo procedimento metodológico na coleta de dados. Foi apresentado um panorama considerando a coleta de resíduos recicláveis e sua triagem, a comercialização, reciclagem e processamento do plástico pós-consumo na RMPA. Não foram encontrados dados de RSU para seis cidades que compunham a RMPA, correspondentes a 9% de sua população. Desta forma estima-se que 91% da população geraram 255.712 toneladas de materiais recicláveis (41% de plásticos), que 22% dos plásticos foram reciclados e que 202.864 toneladas de materiais recicláveis foram enviadas para aterros. Além disto, foi verificado que existiam significativas diferenças de políticas ambientas e de eficiência na reciclagem entre as cidades avaliadas. Para o ano de 2010, cálculos econômicos demonstraram benefícios de R$ 32 milhões na reciclagem do plástico, descontados o custo da coleta seletiva e a manutenção dos centros de triagem. Adicionalmente, foi verificado existir capacidade ociosa nas recicladoras de plástico no Rio Grande do Sul. Considerando que dezoito cidades (81% da população) recuperaram somente 19% dos materiais recicláveis gerados na região através da triagem da coleta seletiva ou bruta, as prováveis causas do envio de grande quantidade de materiais recicláveis para o aterro são a baixa eficiência da população ao separar em casa os resíduos recicláveis dos demais resíduos e a baixa taxa de participação da população na coleta seletiva. Ainda faltava implantar coleta seletiva em dezesseis cidades da RMPA. Entretanto, o aumento na frequência da coleta seletiva poderia aumentar o índice de participação na maioria das cidades e o aumento do pessoal na triagem de coleta bruta poderia aumentar a recuperação de recicláveis. Além disto, R$ 150 milhões seria o benefício por reciclar 89.837 toneladas de materiais recicláveis enviados para o aterro em 2010. / This work aims to address environmental, cultural, economic, safe, social and technological aspects involved in the recycling scene of post-consumer plastics in the Porto Alegre Metropolitan Area (RMPA). The specific goals are to identify: (i) benefits and costs of sorting recyclable materials and recycling plastics; (ii) problems, causes and opportunities related to sorting of recyclable materials and post-consumer plastic recycling and processing in the RMPA. Owing to the lack of a more recent complete data base for the RMPA, the recycling scene was built from 2010 data (from integrated waste management plans and Brazilian government database). Interviews with actors involved in the post-consumer plastic recycling of the region were the second collection method used. The recycling scene in the region has been presented, considering collection, sorting, trading, transportation, mechanical recycling and re-processing. Municipal solid waste (MSW) data was not found for six cities, corresponding to 9% of the RMPA population. According to this study estimations, 91% of the RMPA population generated 255,712 tonnes of recyclable materials (41% of plastics), 22% of plastics were mechanically recycled and 202,864 tonnes of recyclable materials (44% of plastics) were sent to landfill sites. Furthermore, it was verified that there are significant differences of policies and recycling efficiency among the cities of the RMPA. For the year of 2010, economic calculations demonstrated benefits of R$32 million in plastic recycling, discounted the cost of the selective collection and sorting facilities maintenance. Additionally, it was verified that there is a surplus capacity in recycling companies of the region. Considering that 81% of the RMPA population (18 cities) recovered through selective collection only 19% of existing recyclable material in municipal solid waste, low efficiency in sorting recyclable waste at home and low participation rate of population in selective collection may be considered the primary causes of the problem related to the large amount of plastics arriving at the landfill in the RMPA. However, the increase in the selective collection frequency could also contribute to improve the participation rate in most cities of the region. Besides, R$150 million would be the benefit for recycling 89,837 tonnes of plastics, which were sent to landfill.

Este trabalho avaliou aspectos ambientais, culturais, econômicos, de segurança, sociais e tecnológicos da reciclagem de plástico pós-consumo na região metropolitana de Porto Alegre (RMPA). Os objetivos específicos são: (i) obter um panorama da reciclagem do plástico pós-consumo na RMPA; (ii) identificar benefícios e custos da cadeia de reciclagem do plástico pós-consumo; (iii) identificar problemas, causas e oportunidades relacionadas à triagem dos materiais recicláveis, à reciclagem e transformação de plástico pós-consumo na RMPA. Devido à falta de dados completos mais recentes, o panorama foi construído utilizando dados de 2010 (base de dados governamental e planos municipais de gestão integrada de resíduos sólidos). Entrevistas com atores da triagem de materiais recicláveis, comercialização de sucata plástica, reciclagem e transformação do plástico pós-consumo constituíram o segundo procedimento metodológico na coleta de dados. Foi apresentado um panorama considerando a coleta de resíduos recicláveis e sua triagem, a comercialização, reciclagem e processamento do plástico pós-consumo na RMPA. Não foram encontrados dados de RSU para seis cidades que compunham a RMPA, correspondentes a 9% de sua população. Desta forma estima-se que 91% da população geraram 255.712 toneladas de materiais recicláveis (41% de plásticos), que 22% dos plásticos foram reciclados e que 202.864 toneladas de materiais recicláveis foram enviadas para aterros. Além disto, foi verificado que existiam significativas diferenças de políticas ambientas e de eficiência na reciclagem entre as cidades avaliadas. Para o ano de 2010, cálculos econômicos demonstraram benefícios de R$ 32 milhões na reciclagem do plástico, descontados o custo da coleta seletiva e a manutenção dos centros de triagem. Adicionalmente, foi verificado existir capacidade ociosa nas recicladoras de plástico no Rio Grande do Sul. Considerando que dezoito cidades (81% da população) recuperaram somente 19% dos materiais recicláveis gerados na região através da triagem da coleta seletiva ou bruta, as prováveis causas do envio de grande quantidade de materiais recicláveis para o aterro são a baixa eficiência da população ao separar em casa os resíduos recicláveis dos demais resíduos e a baixa taxa de participação da população na coleta seletiva. Ainda faltava implantar coleta seletiva em dezesseis cidades da RMPA. Entretanto, o aumento na frequência da coleta seletiva poderia aumentar o índice de participação na maioria das cidades e o aumento do pessoal na triagem de coleta bruta poderia aumentar a recuperação de recicláveis. Além disto, R$ 150 milhões seria o benefício por reciclar 89.837 toneladas de materiais recicláveis enviados para o aterro em 2010. / This work aims to address environmental, cultural, economic, safe, social and technological aspects involved in the recycling scene of post-consumer plastics in the Porto Alegre Metropolitan Area (RMPA). The specific goals are to identify: (i) benefits and costs of sorting recyclable materials and recycling plastics; (ii) problems, causes and opportunities related to sorting of recyclable materials and post-consumer plastic recycling and processing in the RMPA. Owing to the lack of a more recent complete data base for the RMPA, the recycling scene was built from 2010 data (from integrated waste management plans and Brazilian government database). Interviews with actors involved in the post-consumer plastic recycling of the region were the second collection method used. The recycling scene in the region has been presented, considering collection, sorting, trading, transportation, mechanical recycling and re-processing. Municipal solid waste (MSW) data was not found for six cities, corresponding to 9% of the RMPA population. According to this study estimations, 91% of the RMPA population generated 255,712 tonnes of recyclable materials (41% of plastics), 22% of plastics were mechanically recycled and 202,864 tonnes of recyclable materials (44% of plastics) were sent to landfill sites. Furthermore, it was verified that there are significant differences of policies and recycling efficiency among the cities of the RMPA. For the year of 2010, economic calculations demonstrated benefits of R$32 million in plastic recycling, discounted the cost of the selective collection and sorting facilities maintenance. Additionally, it was verified that there is a surplus capacity in recycling companies of the region. Considering that 81% of the RMPA population (18 cities) recovered through selective collection only 19% of existing recyclable material in municipal solid waste, low efficiency in sorting recyclable waste at home and low participation rate of population in selective collection may be considered the primary causes of the problem related to the large amount of plastics arriving at the landfill in the RMPA. However, the increase in the selective collection frequency could also contribute to improve the participation rate in most cities of the region. Besides, R$150 million would be the benefit for recycling 89,837 tonnes of plastics, which were sent to landfill.

abstract: Currently, consumers throw away products every day, turning those materials into waste. Electronic waste poses special problems when it is not recycled because it may contain toxic components that can leach into landfill surroundings and reach groundwater sources or contaminate soil, and its plastic, metal, and electronic materials do not biodegrade and are lost rather than recycled. This study analyzes a system that attempts to solve the electronic post-consumer-waste problem by shifting the economic burden of disposal from local municipalities to producers, reducing its environmental impacts while promoting economic development. The system was created in British Columbia, Canada after the province enacted a recycling regulation based on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), a policy strategy that is fast growing globally. The BC recycling regulation requires all e-toy corporations in BC to comply with a government-approved product-stewardship program to recover and dispose of e-toys after they have been discarded by consumers. In response to the regulation, e-toy corporations joined a Canadian non-profit entity that recycles regulated waste. I conducted a case study using in-depth interviews with the stakeholders to identify the outcomes of this program and its potential for replication in other industries. I derived lessons from which corporations can learn to implement stewardship programs based on EPR regulations. The e-toy program demonstrated that creating exclusive programs is neither efficient nor economically feasible. Corporations should expect low recycling rates in the first phases of the program implementation because EPR regulations are long-term strategies. In order to reach any conclusions about the demand of consumers for recycling programs, we need to measure the program's return rates during at least three years. I also derived lessons that apply to the expansion of EPR regulations to a broader scope of product categories. The optimal way to expand EPR policy is to do it by gradually adding new product categories to the regulation on a long-term schedule. By doing so, new categories can take advantage of existing stewardship programs and their infrastructure to recover and recycle the post-consumer products. EPR proved to be an effective option to make corporations start thinking about the end of life of their products. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Sustainability 2014

Orientador: Marco-Aurelio De Paoli / Tese (Doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Quimica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-10T02:43:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Vallim_MarcioRoberto_D.pdf: 1739419 bytes, checksum: ccd0a1bb0b8347580c6c5296c09efe30 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: Blendas poliméricas, geralmente, são imiscíveis, devido à baixa entropia de mistura, e incompatíveis, devido à ausência de interações intermoleculares entre as fases, resultando em propriedades mecânicas inadequadas. O uso de copolímeros bloco ou de enxertia é uma forma de promover a adesão entre as fases e reduzir a tensão interfacial. Neste trabalho foi estudado o efeito da substituição do polietileno de alta densidade pelo polietileno de alta densidade pós-consumo (PEpc) em blendas com a poliamida-6 (PA6), a fim de verificar se o PEpc age como um compatibilizante. As blendas foram preparadas nas composições de 25, 50 e 75 % em massa de PA6, usando extrusora mono- ou dupla-rosca com perfil de temperatura de 230 a 255 °C a 102 rpm. Os ¿espaguetes¿ foram resfriados em banho d¿água, picotados e, posteriormente, injetados com o mesmo perfil de temperatura e os corpos de prova foram resfriados no molde a 20 °C por 20 s. A microscopia eletrônica de varredura das fraturas criogênicas revelou uma redução no diâmetro médio da fase dispersa das blendas contendo PEpc e os ensaios mecânicos mostraram que ocorreram aumentos da tensão na força máxima, do módulo de flexão e da resistência ao impacto. Por outro lado, a estabilidade térmica (temperatura inicial de degradação e temperatura de máxima velocidade de degradação) e as propriedades térmicas (entalpia de fusão e temperaturas de fusão e de cristalização) não sofreram alteração significativa. A hipótese da interação entre o PEpc e a PA6 foi reforçada pela aplicação dos dados de viscosidade aparente dos homopolímeros ao modelo empírico de Wu, pela formação de suspensão coloidal estável durante o teste de Molau e pelo aumento do módulo de armazenamento, verificado pela análise dinâmico-mecânica. Conclui-se que os grupos polares resultantes da degradação da cadeia do PEpc interagem quimicamente com a PA6, desempenhando um efeito compatibilizante, o qual, resulta em redução da tensão interfacial e aumento da adesão entre as fases da blenda / Abstract: Polymer blends are commonly immiscible, due to the small entropy of mixture, and incompatible, caused by the absence of intermolecular interactions between the phases, resulting in poor mechanical properties. The addition of block or graft copolymers is an alternative way to improve the adhesion at the interface and to reduce the interfacial tension. In this work, high density polyethylene or post-consumer high density polyethylene (PEpc) were blended with polyamide-6 (PA6) to verify the supposed compatibilizing effect of PEpc. Blends were prepared with 25, 50 and 75 wt % of PA6, by using a single- or a twin-screw extruder, at a temperature range from 230 to 255 °C and 102 rpm rotational speed. Test specimens were obtained by injection molding at the same conditions of the extrusion. The temperature and the period of molding were 20 °C and 20 s, respectively. The scanning electron microscopy showed a reduction in the size domains of the disperse phase when PEpc was used, in addition the tensile strength, the flexural modulus and the impact strength were improved. The thermal stability (onset degradation temperature and maximum degradation temperature) and the thermal properties (melting and crystallization temperatures and fusion enthalpy) were unaffected by PEpc. The hypothesis of the compatibilizing effect of PEpc was supported by the simulation for domain size using the Wu equation, by the formation of a colloidal suspension in the Molau test and by the increase of storage modulus in the dynamic-mechanical analysis. It could be concluded that PEpc acts as a compatibilizer in PA6 blends, decreasing the interfacial tension and improving the phase adhesion, by the interaction of the amine end groups of PA6 and the polar groups of PEpc, generated from its environmental and thermomechanical degradation / Doutorado / Físico-Química / Doutor em Ciências

In 2015 the global fibre consumption was 96.7 million tonnes, which is an increase of 3.1% from the year before. Our high textile consumption has led to an increasing demand of raw materials and generation of textile waste. Only in Europe, a total amount of 4.3 million tonnes of apparel waste each year is sent to either incineration or landfills. Approximately 50% of the clothes we discard and donate are composed of cotton. In the future, the cotton production is predicted to stagnate since the world population is increasing and arable land to greater extent will be needed for food production. Thereby, it is important that we utilize the cotton waste generated. One of the most commonly used processes for recycling textile waste is the shredding process. In this method, textile waste is shredded back into their constituent fibres. The drawback with the shredding process is that the fibre length is reduced. The fibre length is an important property since it has a high influence on textile processing such as yarn production and final product quality. The aim of this thesis was to investigate how post-consumer cotton garments with different degree of wear affects the fibre length obtained in the shredding process. This was performed by analysing the input fibre length as well as the output fibre length. Additionally, several parameters were investigated: fabric construction and yarn structure. Degree of wear was categorized into two levels: low and high degree of wear. The fabric constructions used in this study were single-jersey and denim. The yarn structure were analysed in terms of yarn count, yarn twist and manufacturing process.  The result showed that the fibre length before shredding was statistically significant longer for the materials with low degree of wear compared to high degree of wear. After shredding, it was shown that the fibre length reduction was lower for the materials with high degree of wear. This indicates that longer fibres give higher fibre length reduction. In addition, it was found that finer yarn gives higher fibre length reduction. The result also showed that the yarn manufacturing process has a great influence on the ease of shredding and the fibre length obtained in the end.  Based on the result in this thesis it can be concluded that the shredding process needs to be improved in order to preserve the fibre length. The area of post-consumer textile waste is complex and the result showed that there is many underlying parameters that need to be taken into account to further develop the shredding process.