Recycling and Sustainable Design for Smart Textiles − A Review

AbstractThe increasing use of e‐textiles in healthcare, sports, and fashion has coined a new frontier of scientific innovation. However, unique compositions and embedded electronic elements of these e‐textiles pose significant challenges for end‐of‐life management, markedly in recycling and sustainable design. This review explores the landscape of recycling and sustainable design in e‐textiles, underlining the need for innovative approaches to mitigate ecological and economic impacts. By employing a systematic approach, the paper seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current state of smart textiles, recycling technologies, and shortcomings, identify the challenges, and propose future directions for sustainable smart textile waste management. Starting with an overview of smart textiles and their growing applications, the paper highlights the importance of recycling in the textile industry to address escalating e‐waste concerns. It evaluates the consequences of smart textile waste, underscoring the urgency of efficient recycling systems. Current recycling technologies are highlighted, alongside their limitations and challenges associated with material composition, inadequate separation techniques, and quality degradation. Emerging recycling technologies, such as advanced de‐embedding and separation techniques and innovative recycling processes, are presented as promising solutions to overcome traditional difficulties. The concept of sustainability in the design of smart textiles is explored, focusing on strategies to enhance recyclability and reduce environmental footprints. Additionally, the paper identifies the key challenges and barriers to recycling smart textiles, such as technological, economic, and regulatory hurdles, and proposes opportunities and future directions to foster a circular economy.