Circular Economy in Safety and Protective Textiles: Feasibility and Prospects for Recycling Used Firefighting Protective Clothing

Abstract

In response to mounting resource and environmental pressures in the textile industry, this study investigates the feasibility of fiber-to-fiber closed-loop recycling for used firefighting protective clothing—a waste stream characterized by material homogeneity and large-scale disposal. Employing a mixed-methods approach combining stakeholder questionnaires, field investigations (n = 3650), and performance testing of retired aramid fabrics, this research systematically evaluates the technical, market, and systemic potential for circular regeneration. Results demonstrate strong multi-stakeholder support (over 89%) and significant consumer willingness to purchase recycled products (81.01–84% across categories), while material tests confirm the retained flame resistance and mechanical properties of the fabrics, enabling high-value applications. By constructing an integrated framework spanning technical, policy, market, and cultural dimensions, and proposing strategies of “targeted recycling” and “value reconstruction,” this work confirms the commercial viability and environmental benefit of recycling firefighting gear. It further offers a transferable model for advancing the circularity of other safety and protective textiles, with key innovations lying in its comprehensive full-chain assessment and the concurrent validation of stakeholder dynamics and material performance.