Textile Waste Management in Australia: Current Practices and Strategies for Reducing Environmental Impacts

The textile industry plays a crucial role in global economies, yet it faces significant environmental challenges, particularly concerning textile waste. This thesis undertakes an examination of sustainability challenges within Australia's textile industry, with a particular focus on textile waste management. The study aims to understand the current state of textile waste, develop a model to track textile flow from consumption to end-of-life stages, estimate textile consumption and waste generation, and evaluate associated environmental impacts, particularly in terms of carbon emissions. Through a comprehensive review of scholarly literature and empirical research, the study identifies critical insights, including insufficient data on textile consumption and waste, inadequacies in processing capacities, and the imperative for enhanced regulatory clarity concerning textile waste legislation. Material Flow Analysis serves as a methodological cornerstone to quantify waste streams, revealing significant volumes directed towards landfills despite recycling efforts. Furthermore, the study conducts a comparative analysis of energy demand and carbon footprints across diverse textile waste management systems in Australia, highlighting the potential of sustainable waste management practices to mitigate environmental impacts. The outcomes underscore the complexity of textile waste management and emphasize the necessity for collaborative efforts to address this exigent concern. This thesis constitutes an original academic contribution, furnishing insights gleaned from empirical research articles that not only deepen scholarly understanding but also offer actionable implications for policy formulation and industry practice aimed at fostering sustainability within the textile industry.<p></p>