Transforming Textile Waste into High-Value Nonwoven and Acoustic Materials: A Sustainable Review:

The continuous expansion of the textile industry has led to a significant increase in textile waste generation, creating serious environmental, economic, and social challenges worldwide. This review paper provides a detailed analysis of textile waste management practices, focusing on sustainable approaches such as recycling, reuse, and upcycling within the framework of a circular economy. Textile waste is broadly categorized into pre-consumer and post-consumer waste, each having different characteristics and challenges. The paper highlights the conversion of textile waste into value-added products, particularly nonwoven fabrics, using processes such as fibers recovery, web formation, and bonding techniques like needle punching and thermal bonding. These materials exhibit excellent properties such as thermal insulation, mechanical strength, and sound absorption, making them suitable for applications in automotive, construction, and industrial sectors. However, challenges such as contamination, mixed fibers composition, high processing costs, and lack of infrastructure continue to hinder large-scale implementation. This review emphasizes the need for technological innovation, policy support, and increased awareness to promote sustainable textile waste management and achieve a circular economy.