This document summarizes an opinnäytetyö (master's thesis) research project that evaluated the potential for upcycling hospital textile waste. The research tested the breaking force, mass per unit area, and thread count of discarded hospital bedsheets and blankets. The results showed that different parts of the textiles degraded differently and had varying properties. Some waste textiles were found to still have sufficient mechanical properties to be upcycled into fashion garments like shirts, blouses, and light suits. The remainder clippings could potentially be used for insulation or, for polyester/cotton fabrics, the cotton could be dissolved and polyester used for filaments. The document recommends aiming to prevent textile waste

1. 16 Tekstiili 4/2016
OPINNÄYTETYÖ
Upcycling of Hospital Waste Textiles
The amount of textile waste is increasing
and turning into a burning problem with
every passing year. Textiles go through
a lot of changes in their dimensions and
properties through their life.The objective
of my research was to evaluate wheth-
er the used textiles still have properties
strong enough to be upcycled into new
products.The term upcycling is used when
the value of the final product is higher
compared to its original form.If the prop-
erties of the waste textiles are not condu-
cive enough, then other alternatives could
be explored. The research was carried out
in collaboration with TAUKO Design
and Päijät-Hämeen Tekstiilihuolto Oy.
They supplied materials to be tested and
allowed me to study the laundry process,
which gave an idea of the amount of prop-
erties lost during the laundry.
The samples mainly consisted of dis-
carded hospital bedsheets and blanket
covers.These were examined by three dif-
ferent tests, Breaking force, Mass per unit
area andThread count.These tests indicate
the strength of the fibers,the amount they
shrink and the texture or how the materi-
al feels. Based on the results obtained, up-
cycling possibilities were explored. It was
established from the results that differ-
ent parts of these textiles could be used for
separate applications.The corner parts and
the center part of the bedsheets and blan-
ket covers had degraded differently and
hence,they possessed variable values.
The mechanical properties of some
waste textiles were found to be more than
required minimum to upcycle them into
fashionable garments. The used bedsheets
and blanket covers from hospitals were fit
enough to be upcycled into woven shirt
or blouse and light suits. In fact, the pol-
yester/cotton blanket covers could also be
upcycled into overcoats. Since the textiles
are not degraded evenly, the useable parts
are trimmed to be used in fashionable gar-
ments. The remainder clippings are even-
tually left as waste.
Apparently, these waste clippings espe-
cially from cotton textiles could be used
as insulation materials. When it comes to
mixed polyester/cotton fabrics, the cot-
ton part can be dissolved and the polyes-
ters can be used as filament fibers. There
are some companies working in the field
to utilize the textile waste as viscose fibers;
re:newcell in Sweden and VTT in Finland
to name a few.
We should aim to prevent textile wastes
ending up in landfills. If the properties
permit the wastes should be upcycled or
recycled and the rest downcycled. Next in
priority would be an alternate option of
using them as biofuels. Cotton is proba-
bly the only textile fiber textile which has
a cellulose content higher than 60 percent.
This makes cotton a very good prospect to
be used for biofuels. If option of biofuels
doesn’t suffice,the wastes should finally be
incinerated to produce energy.
Shameek Vats
shameekvats@gmail.com
+358 41 4868980
This article is based on author’s
Master’s research in Tampere
University of Technology.Full Thesis
can be accessed at http://URN.fi/
URN:NBN:fi:tty-201507291462.
A published paper can also be
accessed at http://www.mdpi.
com/2313-4321/1/1/166/htm
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