Today's KNOWLEDGE Share
The Hidden Graveyard of Aramid Garments
Here's a shocking statistic: Less than 1% of aramid textiles (Kevlar, Nomex, Conex) are ever recycled.
Where do your end-of-life protective garments actually go?
The vast majority is landfilled or incinerated. Literally out of sight, out of mind. Some gets incinerated, but burning flame-resistant materials releases toxic gases like hydrogen cyanide. Many are classified as hazardous waste, contaminated with oils, chemicals, or PFAS, making disposal even more complex and costly.
The irony? These materials are engineered to be virtually indestructible, which makes them incredible at protecting lives, but a nightmare when it's time to dispose of them.
The Real Problem
We've created a linear system: Produce → Use → Bury/Burn
These expensive, resource-intensive garments live short lives protecting our first responders, military personnel, and industrial workers, then spend eternity polluting our planet.
The dirty little secret? The protective garment industry has no viable exit strategy for end-of-life products.
Tomorrow: just how toxic and persistent this waste really is, and why it’s not just “going away.”
source : Justin Norton
#aramid #textiles
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