Can the use of recycled cotton reduce the environmental pollution caused by waste textiles?

The use of recycled cotton can significantly reduce the environmental pollution caused by waste textiles. The following is a breakdown explanation:

1. Block landfill incineration pollution
Recycling waste cotton textiles into recycled cotton directly reduces the amount of it entering landfills or incinerators. The process of landfilling and decay releases greenhouse gases such as methane, while incineration produces toxic smoke and ash that pollutes the atmosphere and soil.

2. Replace the production of highly polluting raw materials
Recycled cotton, as a raw material for geotextiles and other products, can replace some of the original cotton or synthetic fibers. The cultivation of native cotton requires a large amount of pesticides and fertilizers, which pollutes the soil and water; Chemical fiber production relies on petrochemicals and emits highly toxic waste gases and wastewater.

3. Closed loop loop reduces resource extraction
Reintroduce discarded cotton products into the industrial chain to reduce the demand for raw fiber materials such as cotton and wood pulp. Reduce ecological damage such as soil degradation and water depletion caused by cotton cultivation.

4. Pollution control during processing
Recycled cotton processing is mainly based on physical treatment (crushing, loosening). Compared with high pollution processes such as chemical dyeing and bleaching of native fibers, its water consumption and chemical additive dosage are significantly reduced, and the toxicity of wastewater is easier to control.

5. Natural degradation advantages of terminal products
Cotton fibers themselves are biodegradable, and after being made into geotextiles for slope protection and other engineering projects, they age and decompose into organic matter that is integrated into the soil, avoiding the shedding of synthetic fibers and the formation of persistent microplastic pollution.

6. Systematic support is needed to reduce pollution effects
The environmental value of recycled cotton requires a complete system support: it is necessary to establish an efficient recycling network to reduce transportation emissions, adopt clean energy production, and avoid excessive cleaning and consumption of resources for "regeneration", otherwise it may offset the pollution reduction benefits.