​The Ultimate Guide to Textile Recycling

Welcome, eco-warriors and conscious consumers, to the ultimate textile recycling guide! If you're anything like us, you're tired of throwing away perfectly good fabrics only to see them end up in landfills. Not only is it a waste of resources — it's also incredibly harmful to the environment.

Well, fear not! Read on to learn how textile recycling works, why it's so important, and what you can do to start giving old fabrics new life. From upcycling and downcycling to waste-to-energy, textile take-back programs and more, we've got all the facts you need to reduce textile waste and make a positive impact on the planet.

The State of Textile Pollution & Waste in 2025

The current state of the textile industry is a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand, it provides jobs and supplies us with everything from clothing to bedding. On the other, it generates an alarming amount of waste.

In Canada, 500 million (yes, million) kilograms of textiles are thrown out annually, 85% of which end up in the garbage. This clogs up our landfills for centuries, and increases the emissions contributed by products through effects such as water pollution and chemical leaching.

The good news is, we're starting to see a shift towards more sustainable, ethical practices. QE Home and other like minded companies have committed to producing new products responsibly and reducing waste (read about our sustainability initiative). One way to go about that? Recycling! 

The Benefits of Textile Recycling

Textile recycling is vital for our economy, our environment, and our collective future. Here are some of the ways it makes our world better:

• Reducing landfill waste: Textiles account for up to 7% of all landfill waste in Canada, and it takes between 80 – 1000 years for these garments to break down. 
• Conserving resources and energy: Manufacturing textiles with recycled materials requires significantly less energy and produces 70% less greenhouse gas compared to virgin material production. 
• Reducing water usage: The textile industry is one of the largest water-consuming industries globally; recycling one kilogram of cotton can save up to 20,000 litres of water. 
• Minimizing pollution: Recycling polyester textiles prevents microplastic pollution and harmful chemical runoff. 
• Creating jobs: Increasing textile recycling in Canada could create thousands of green jobs and generate millions in economic activity.
• Textile recycling increases the amount of recycled material on the market, which allows more goods to be made from recycled materials while simultaneously lowering their cost. 

So, how does it work?

Textile Recycling Methods

Textile recycling is a fascinating process that consists of collecting old materials, processing them, and crafting them anew. It is essential for creating a more sustainable future, reducing waste, and conserving resources.

Gathering the textiles is a vital first step, and many companies have collection bins for people to drop off unwanted fabrics. Others like QE Home have convenient textile take-back programs that empower consumers to bring old items in to stores to be recycled in exchange for credits. 

These collected materials are then sorted to determine the best method for processing the textiles - whether that’s upcycling, downcycling, or converting waste to energy.

Fiber to Fiber Upcycling

Fiber to fiber upcycling takes discarded textiles and transforms them into new yarn for new products. Best part? The quality is often higher, thanks to modern technology and techniques. 

Think of it as Marie Kondo's method of decluttering, but on a larger scale: taking what doesn't spark joy and turning it into something that will. It’s sustainable, innovative and fashionable all at the same time. 

Downcycling

While upcycling is more desirable, downcycling is the next-best-thing. Downcycling is the process of shredding and converting unwanted textiles into various mixed-used items, such as insulation, padding for sports equipment or cleaning rags. 

Downcycling is perfect for old materials that cannot be used again in their original form — for example, if they’re too worn or damaged.

Waste-to-Energy

When neither upcycling nor downcycling are possible, we turn to waste-to-energy. 

Waste-to-energy takes non-hazardous waste otherwise destined for landfills and incinerates it, generating power electricity or heat. The leftover ash is also processed to help recover metal for recycling, and all remaining gasses are collected, filtered and cleaned to minimize the environmental impact. 

Wondering about the emissions involved? While less sustainable than upcycling or downcycling, waste-to-energy is still a significantly greener alternative to landfills.

It Pays to Recycle Your Textiles

Consumer behaviour has a huge impact on our planet, and by choosing responsible practices and products, we can reduce our environmental footprint and create a greener future.

One way consumers can make a difference is by choosing sustainable and recycled materials. At QE Home, we offer a variety of eco-friendly options you can feel good about, from organic cotton and rayon from bamboo, to closed-loop materials like TENCEL™. 

And of course, it’s never been more vital to participate in textile recycling and take back programs. With tons and tonnes of textiles taking up precious landfill space every year, these programs are essential to reduce this waste.

That’s why QE Home has created ReHome — the easiest and most sustainable way to keep old bedding out of landfills, give linens a second chance at life, and get rewarded for your good deeds.

Take Action: How to Recycle Your Old Bedding

Powered by SuperCircle, ReHome is our textile recycling and take-back program that empowers you to recycle your unwanted bed threads and reap the benefits. Simply bring your unwanted bedding to us for recycling, and you’ll receive credits you can use towards your next purchase.

That’s right — together we can repurpose old bed threads into new fabrics, eliminate excess waste and prioritize sustainable consumption.

The ReHome Process

1. It all starts when you dig up your old bedding items for recycling and initiate the recycling process through our online portal.
2. Next, find your closest participating store and drop off your items, laundered and sealed in a bag.
3. A QE Home store associate will take your items and make sure they make their way to SuperCircle.
4. At the SuperCircle warehouse, the material will either be upcycled into new items & textiles or downcycled into other mixed-use items.
5. Collect credits to shop at QE Home! It’s easy on your wallet - and the environment.

Visit ReHome to learn more and start recycling your old bedding today.

Reduce Waste & Save Money With Textile Recycling Programs

The best thing you can do with your textiles (bedding or otherwise) is to keep them for as long as possible. When you buy quality fabrics and abide by their care instructions, they should last for years. When they’re truly ready to be reborn, that’s when textile recycling comes in.

Textile recycling diverts fabric away from landfills, reduces waste, conserves resources, and promotes sustainable practices industry-wide. Plus, take-back programs make it easy for everyone to participate in the circular economy!

So, if you're ready to get rid of old bedding the eco-friendly way, get started with ReHome today. Not only will you be doing your part to protect the planet — you’ll also save money on your next dreamy purchase (like, say, some eco-friendly bedding)!