Public Education Key to Extending Textile Lifespan, Experts Say
Experts point out that recycling textiles into raw materials is a future challenge, so currently the focus should be on extending their lifespan through repair and reuse, while educating the public.
Recycling textiles into new products or raw materials is a question for the future, as most textile items are made from multiple different materials rather than a single one. This makes recycling complex and costly. Therefore, the current priority is to extend the lifespan of textiles by promoting repair and reuse. However, without public education, these efforts will not succeed.
Experts emphasize the need to change consumer behavior—instead of simply discarding old clothes, people should repair them or pass them on for further use. A sustainable approach to textiles must not only be supported by regulations but also communicated to a broad audience. By educating citizens about garment care, repair, and recycling options, the amount of textile waste can be significantly reduced.
At present, textile recycling technologies are not advanced enough to efficiently separate different fibers, making repair and reuse the most practical solution. In the long term, it is necessary to develop recycling capacity while continuing public education to build a circular economy in the textile sector.
This approach aligns with the European Union's sustainability goals and can help Latvia meet its waste reduction targets. However, without active education and integration into daily practice, the lifespan of textiles will not change substantially.
