Recyclers rediscover cotton’s circularity
Press release provided by SMART
Washington, D.C, US – 2 December, 2025 - As American farmers enter peak harvest season, textile recyclers across the country are reminding the fashion industry that cotton—one of the world’s oldest fibers is also one of its most circular. With the raw material price of virgin cotton at its lowest point in more than 30 years and global cotton demand dipping to historic lows due to the surge of synthetic fibers, the Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association (SMART) is calling on brands and designers to revisit the power and practicality of cotton.
“Cotton remains the backbone of the circular textile economy,” said Brian Ruben, Board President of SMART. “It’s durable, it resells well, it’s repairable, it biodegrades, and when a garment reaches the end of its wearable life, cotton still has strong value - whether it becomes wiping cloths, fiber for new materials, or feedstock for emerging recycling technologies.”
A Circular Workhorse from Resale to Recycling:
Textile recyclers say the industry has forgotten one critical truth: cotton keeps paying dividends long after its first wear.
Excellent Longevity: Cotton garments remain some of the most durable and repairable pieces in the resale market.
High Resale and Reuse Value: Secondhand cotton apparel consistently sells faster and retains value better than many synthetic alternatives.
Valuable End-of-Life Uses: Even when garments can no longer be worn, cotton shines. Recyclers convert it into wipers, industrial rags, shoddy fiber, and feedstock for next-gen recycling technologies.
Biodegradable by Nature: Cotton returns to the earth—no microplastic footprint.
“These second and third lives are precisely what make cotton exceptional,” said Ruben. “If brands want to meet real circularity goals - resale, repair, recycling - cotton remains their smartest design choice.”
A Moment to Reclaim an American Strength
This message arrives during cotton harvest season, a point of pride for U.S. agriculture. The United States is the fourth-largest cotton-producing country in the world, supplying a fiber deeply rooted in American history and innovation.
Cotton Prices Are Low - And the Opportunity Is High
The raw material price of cotton has fallen dramatically, offering brands an opening to re-embrace cotton at a moment of exceptional affordability.
“As recyclers, we see firsthand which fibers hold value,” Ruben added. “Right now, the economics and the environmental logic both point in the same direction: cotton is the smart fiber for a circular future.”
SMART’s Message to Fashion: Choose Cotton
SMART, representing more than 150 companies in the global recycling supply chain, stresses that circularity begins at the design stage. The fiber choices brands make today determine the waste, value, and recyclability of tomorrow.
“Cotton is simple. It’s smart. And it’s circular by nature,” said Ruben. “Don’t ditch cotton - if anything, the fashion industry should be leaning into it more than ever.”
About SMART
The Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association (SMART) is the leading voice of the textile recycling industry, representing companies that collect, process, and recycle textiles worldwide. SMART members give millions of pounds of textiles a second life each year, supporting environmental sustainability, job creation, and the global circular economy.
