This framed illustration depicts the life cycle of post-industrial textile waste generated in Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) industry, commonly known as ‘Jhut’. Approximately 600,000 tonnes of this waste is produced annually in Bangladesh, fiber that can be recovered and recycled, then blended with other materials to manufacture a recycled end product. This valorization process is known as ‘Circularity’ in the RMG industry. The life-cycle of ‘Jhut’ is described below:
1. Post Industrial Waste (jhut)
This process starts by collecting and sorting the fabric scraps and offcuts from garment production, also known as ‘Jhut, by color, composition, size, and quality. They serve as the main input for mechanical recycling in Bangladesh.
2. 100% Recycled Cotton Fiber and Recycled Polyester Fiber
The collected scraps are processed through mechanical or chemical recycling methods to separate and regenerate usable fiber. It is then blended with recycled polyester fibers.
3. Blended Fiber
The outcome is a mix of recycled cotton and polyester that balances comfort, durability, and cost for high-quality recycled fabrics. The blend ratio is determined based on end-use requirements and optimized for both wearer comfort and product longevity.
4. Sliver
The blended fiber is then carded, combed, and drawn into aligned slivers. It is a soft, untwisted strand of parallel fibers that are later fed into spinning machines.
5.100% Recycled Yarn
Slivers are fed into spinning machines, where tension and draw produce a consistent recycled yarn produced entirely from recycled fibers, offering strength and texture comparable to conventional yarn.
6. Fabric Made From 100% Recycled Yarn
This yarn is then knitted or woven into the final fabric. Every component of the finished textile is traceable to post-industrial waste inputs. No virgin fiber is introduced at any stage of the process.
The result is a product that demonstrates the commercial and technical viability of circular textile manufacturing, waste recovered, processed, and returned to productive use within the supply chain.
