India is battling a major problem: mountains of discarded clothes. Each year, the country produces nearly 3.9 million tonnes of textile waste, much of it ending up in landfills. IIT-Delhi’s new breakthrough offers a powerful fix – turning old denim into high-quality, comfortable knitwear.
How Does The New Process Work?
Researchers led by Prof Abhijit Majumdar and Prof BS Butola have created a special method to recycle denim waste. Their team found a way to convert used denim into yarn without losing strength or comfort. By carefully controlling the recycling process, the yarn they produce is robust and soft.
This recycled yarn is then blended into fabric. New garments can include between 25% and 75% recycled yarn, with up to 50% perfectly matching the quality of regular clothing. Thanks to a softening treatment, the final product feels just like brand-new materials.
Big Impact On India’s Textile Waste Problem
Most textile waste in India is not recycled. It clogs up landfills and pollutes the air and water. Less than half of the country’s textile waste is collected, and only a small part of that is recycled. IIT-Delhi’s method could change this by making recycling easier and more effective.
- More Clothes, Less Landfill: The process lets old jeans and denim scraps turn into new, stylish clothing instead of rubbish.
- Multiple Waste Types: While denim is the focus, the method can be used for other textile waste too—a huge benefit for India.
Environmental Benefits For India
The IIT-Delhi team carried out a Life Cycle Assessment to track the environmental impact. The results are impressive:
- Recycling denim can cut down greenhouse gas emissions, acid rain, and fossil fuel use by 30-40%.
- Ozone layer depletion drops by up to 60%.
- Using recycled yarn reduces the need for new cotton. Cotton farming uses too much water, pesticides, and fertilisers and drives global warming.
Building A Sustainable Future
IIT-Delhi’s innovation isn’t just about fashion—it’s about creating a cleaner, greener India. By reusing old textiles, we save energy, water, and resources. The method also creates new job opportunities in textile recycling and encourages consumers to move away from fast fashion.