What Are Blended Fabrics, and Why Are They Hard to Recycle?

For the Lazies - A 30-Second Summary

Blended fabrics are made by combining two or more different fibres into one material. These blends often improve stretch, durability, or feel, but they also create serious recycling challenges. Because each fibre has different chemical and mechanical properties, separating them for recycling is a complex and expensive process. That is why facilities like SevenC’s Recycling focus on material recovery innovations that can handle intricate textiles and reduce waste in Western Australia.

What Exactly Are Blended Fabrics?

Blended fabrics are created by weaving or spinning two or more types of fibres together. Common examples include cotton-polyester blends and wool-acrylic blends. These combinations are widely used in everything from t-shirts to uniforms because they strike a balance between comfort, cost, and performance.

While they offer practical benefits for consumers, they pose major problems at the end of their lives. Mixed fibres cannot be easily separated using traditional recycling methods, which are designed to process one type of material at a time.

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Why Are Blended Fabrics Difficult to Recycle?

The biggest challenge with blended fabrics is the chemical and physical difference between fibres. For example, cotton is a natural fibre that decomposes, while polyester is synthetic and does not. This means each component needs different recycling conditions.

Currently, most recycling facilities are only equipped to handle pure fibre textiles. Blends either end up being downcycled into low-value products or are sent to landfills. This is why blended garments are a growing contributor to textile waste in Australia.

What Is Being Done to Solve This?

Innovations in blended fabrics recycling are emerging. Some new chemical recycling technologies can break down different fibres into reusable raw materials. However, these systems are still being scaled and are not yet widely available.

Mechanical recycling facilities, such as SevenC’s Recycling, will play a key role in WA by handling textiles that can be processed and reducing the amount of fabric that ends up in landfills. Over time, increased sorting and design standards may improve the recyclability of blended clothing.

How You Can Help

The easiest way to reduce blended textile waste is to check clothing labels and favour items made with a single fibre where possible. When purchasing new products, look for brands that are committed to circular fashion and recycling partnerships.

Consumers can also donate clothing, reuse it creatively, or support businesses that invest in sustainable disposal options, such as SevenC’s Recycling, which is set to open in 2026.