# Opportunities and Limitations in Recycling Fossil Polymers from Textiles
## Recycling Fossil Polymers
### Composite Production Using Waste Textile  
Adding fibrous reinforcement consisting of fossil textile in composites is a potential way to increase the recycling rate and also an attempt to develop high-value applications from recycled fibres [127]. The presence of fibres affected the thermo-mechanical features and eco-compatibility of biodegradable matrices (polylactic acid, thermoplastic starch, cellulose) or non-biodegradable ones (polypropylene, polyester, polyethylene) in composite preparation. In this framework, cotton based-fabric, opened into a fibrous form by garneting, was blended with polypropylene for realizing 3D woven textiles [128]. Alternatively, it was mixed with hardwood strand core material for preparing oriented panels [129]. An insulation material was realized by a non-homogeneous medium obtained from discarded components of cotton (70%), wool (15%) and acrylic and polyester fibres (15%) recovered from the disposal of plastic bottles [130]. Denim fabric was converted into epoxy-based composites by adopting, as fabrication route, the needle-punching non-woven [131]. Cloth scraps and clippings of cotton and jute materials, together with glass fabric, were incorporated into thermosets consisting of unsaturated polyester resin for fabricating laminate composites with the stacking of fabric plies [132]. The preparation and characterization of green composites from PLA and cotton fabric waste (CFW) by considering the effect of the CFW content on the composites was considered by [PERSON] et al. [133]. CFW pellets were prepared using compression molding and die-cutting techniques and then compounded with PLA in a twin-screw extruder to form composite granules, and it was demonstrated that CFW could improve the tensile modulus, flexural strength, and Izod impact strength of PLA. However, an increased water absorption was also observed for the composite with respect to the pure matrix. The prepared composites based on PLA/CFW could be promising materials for household products such as home decorations and food trays, etc. Moreover, by improving the interfacial adhesion between PLA and CFW, other applications could be considered in the future. In the case of recycled plastics being used as matrix, [PERSON] et al. [134] has considered the environmental impact assessment by using the life cycle assessment (LCA) approach for glass fibre and flax fibre fibrous reinforcement. The resource depletion potential and global warming potential were evaluated for glass fibre- and flax fibre-filled recycled plastics and compared with their respective virgin alternatives. The resource depletion and global warming were compared at equivalent stiffnesses. The results indicated that reinforcing recycled plastics can significantly reduce the resource consumption and global warming in civil and infrastructural applications. However, the composites made from virgin plastics resulted in a greener and sustainable alternative in the automotive applications, where a lower content of fibres can be admitted. In the case of fibres that come from textile waste, the final results could certainly be different and the impact would decrease as the specific elastic modulus of the selected fibres increases. Woven sisal fibre-reinforced green HDPE composites were prepared by a low-cost manufacturing process by reusing polyethylene bags made of sugarcane ethanol (green polyethylene) reinforced with sisal fibres [135]. The hot compression moulding (185 \({}^{\circ}\)C) was used to mould composite structural board, which showed higher tensile strength and a lower modulus of elasticity in comparison to pure HDPE specimens. On the other hand, randomly arranged sisal fibre-reinforced green HDPE composites had higher values for modulus of elasticity than pure HDPE, as well as composites with woven sisal fibres. These materials could be used in structural applications, such as drywall and insulated panels.