Introduction: The Blend Challenge
Polyester and viscose blends represent one of textile recycling's biggest challenges, but also one of the greatest opportunities for innovation.
The Technical Problem
Blends cannot be easily separated because:
- Fibers intertwined at molecular level
- Different chemical properties
- Mechanical recycling doesn't separate them
Emerging Solutions
Selective Chemical Recycling
New technologies allow selectively dissolving one fiber while the other remains intact.
Mono-material Design
The long-term solution is designing garments with a single fiber or easily separable blends.
The Future
It is estimated that by 2030, 50% of blends will be economically recyclable thanks to new technologies.
