Linear, reuse or recycling? An environmental comparison of different life cycle options for cotton roller towels

The environmental impacts of current, predominantly linear, life cycles textiles are widespread and substantial. Although applying circular economy (CE) approaches offers the potential to support transition more sustainable textile value chains, there is a lack empirical evidence supporting choice individual CE strategies for different types textiles. aim this paper study compare introducing (reuse, recycle) into cycle cotton roller towels in terms climate change impact water consumption. According results, linear towel causes 12.4 g CO2e/hand-drying consumption 2.4 l/hand-drying. Combining (reuse recycling), towel's could be reduced as low 8.9 CO2e 0.5 l water/hand-drying. results indicate that key reducing increase use times product, but ambiguous recycling. benefits recycling, even prioritization between depends on type recycling technology substituted material. For gaining clearer from or any textiles, further need development selecting correct processes. • Cotton can gain dissimilar strategies. Reuse clear compared cycle. Impact chemical varies with process product substituted. increased benefits, technologies careful selection. combined maximum benefit.