Recycling blended fabrics

Short answer: A fabric made of two fibres must be separated before it can be recycled, which is costly and technically difficult. That is why pure fibres are much easier to give a new life, and for blends, long use is the safest answer.

What is a blended fabric

A blended fabric is made of two or more fibres spun or knitted together. A common example is viscose with a little elastane, which adds stretch and helps the fabric keep its shape. The blend has benefits in use, but it makes the fabric hard to recycle once the garment is worn out.

Two fibres must be separated

Viscose and elastane in the same fabric must be separated chemically, and the process is not yet widespread. The fibres are closely combined and cannot be pulled apart by hand or machine. This also applies to a long sleeve bamboo t-shirt with elastane, which is otherwise smooth and comfortable to wear.

A few percent makes a difference

Even five percent elastane makes a fabric harder to recycle than a pure one. The small share hardly changes how the garment feels, but it decides which stream the fabric can go into at sorting. This applies across bamboo underwear for men and similar items with stretch.

Why use elastane at all

Elastane gives fit. Underwear and socks need to sit close and return to shape after each wear, which is hard without some stretch. The choice is not between good and bad, but between fit in use and easy recycling afterwards. Both affect how long an item is worn.

What happens to blends today

When a blended fabric is collected and cannot be resold, it is often shredded into cloths or insulation. That is better than burning, but the material does not become new yarn. Technology to separate fibres is being developed, but it is not yet common at scale.

Long use is the safe answer

As long as recycling blends is difficult, the best option is to use the item for a long time. Every extra month of use delays the moment it needs replacing. This also applies to socks for men, which are worn and washed often and benefit from gentle care.

How to make an item last

Wash at a low temperature, avoid the tumble dryer and let clothes air dry. Heat is hardest on elastane, which loses its spring if dried hot again and again. Rotate between several identical items so each gets a rest, and mend small damage before it grows.

Read the care label

The fibre content is on the care label. There you can see whether an item is pure or blended and how much of each fibre it contains. That is useful both when buying and when the item is finally handed in.

Frequently asked questions

Why are blends harder

Because the fibres must be separated before they can be used again, which requires a chemical process that is not yet widespread.

Can elastane be recycled

Only to a very limited extent, and the technology is still developing. Today most of it ends up in streams other than new yarn.

What can I do myself

Use the item as long as possible, wash it gently and hand it in to textile collection once it is worn out.