Recyclable polyester textile waste-based composites for building applications in a circular economy framework

There is a growing need for sustainable solutions to address the increasing levels of textile waste at both post-industrial and post-consumer stages. Easily implementable solutions could accelerate adoption in circular economy applications. In this context, post-industrial polyester and a water-soluble adhesive were combined to fabricate recyclable textile-based composite panels using a room-temperature processing method, reinforcing sustainable practices by lowering energy demands and material use. The resulting composites exhibited tunable acoustic performance: increased textile content enhanced sound absorption but introduced higher porosity during fabrication, which affects the material's overall performance. Additionally, the composites displayed a low thermal conductivity of 0.05 W/m·K, making them suitable for energy-efficient insulation applications, and enhanced toughness, with optimal flexural toughness at 37 wt% and impact toughness at 52 wt% textile content. The ability to recover the materials at room temperature using water demonstrates a simple and effective recycling process, further extends their lifespan, highlighting their potential for resource-efficient reuse within a circular economy framework. These recyclable composites can be directly applied in building construction, offering a sustainable alternative for applications such as insulation panels, acoustic treatments, and non-structural building components. This research advances efforts toward resource-conscious and sustainable production by reducing textile waste and promoting the circular reuse of materials in the construction industry. • Recycled polyester textile waste turned into composite panels for building applications. • Composite panels fabricated using a simple, room-temperature process. • Panels showed reduced thermal conductivity and tunable acoustic performance. • Composites were recoverable at room temperature using water-based recycling.