An Approach to Hygienic Surgical Gown Production Using Recycled Textile Waste and Natural Ingredients
The rapid rise in textile waste poses serious environmental concerns, while healthcare continues to rely on hygienic protective apparel such as surgical gowns. This has led to growing interest in sustainable alternatives that can address waste reduction while maintaining performance standards in medical use. This review explores the potential of utilizing textile waste, with particular attention to the incorporation of natural ingredients to enhance eco-friendly and hygienic properties. The addition of natural ingredients is highlighted for enhancing the eco-friendly and hygienic properties of nonwoven fabric. The reviewed studies evaluate key parameters for biocompatibility, including mechanical strength, fluid repellency, and color fastness, to ensure medical suitability. This review highlights the benefits of waste reduction and improved product performance, though issues of scalability and long-term durability remain. Overall, this review underscores the importance of sustainable innovation in healthcare textiles and offers valuable insights for further research and product development.
Authors
- Muhammad Umar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7036-9781)
- Nazish Nishat
- M. Salman Khan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9716-8165)
- Hafiza Hifza Nawaz
- Nowal Adnan
Institutions
- University of Manchester (GB)
- National Textile University (PK)
- University of Agriculture Faisalabad (PK)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Sustainability
- Published
- 2026-03-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/su18062881
- Primary Topic
- Dyeing and Modifying Textile Fibers
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Henry Royce Institute
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council