SESSION G08 / 11 October 2023 / 15:00 - 16:30
Workshop: Elastane, the pest in textile recycling
Chair / Presidente: Andreas Bartl (AT)
Elastane (EL), is a highly flexible synthetic fiber also known as Spandex or Lycra. Even though the EL production volume only accounts for about 1% of the total fiber market the fiber is, in low concentrations, contained in a large portion of garment. Even if the share of EL is sometimes only in the low single-digit percentage range, recycling of such textiles is made considerably more difficult or even impossible. So far, it is not even known exactly how high the proportion of apparel containing elastane is. Furthermore, a rapid and reliable determination of the EL content in textiles (apart from a cumbersome ISO method) has only recently been presented and finally the separation of EL from garments is still in its infancy. The aim of the workshop is to bring together experts and discuss possible solutions. The state of the art will be presented and potential methods that could be implemented as a pre-stage to a recycling process will be evaluated. Ultimately, the apparel industry must move towards a circular economy in accordance with EU requirements. Introductory lectures:
A. Bartl (AT)
General introduction to the topic
P. Kählig (AT)
Determination of the proportion of garments containing elastane in Viennese textile waste
E. Boschmeier, V.-M. Archodoulaki, A. Schwaighofer, B. Lendl, A. Bartl (AT)
A tool for quantification of elastane in textile waste to avoid recycling problems
H. Stipanovic (AT)
Elastane, big problem in small amounts for NIR spectroscopy?
