Textile Industry Research Articles

Sustainable textile industry: Balancing growth and environmental concerns in Bangladesh

Sustainable textile industry: Balancing growth and environmental concerns in Bangladesh

Unlocking Employee Potential: Exploring the Influence of Identity Fu-sion and Pro-group Motivation on Productivity

This study observes the potential of identity fusion and pro-group motivation to improve employees’ productivity in the textile manufacturing industry in a time of health crisis. This follows explicitly to observe whether the identity-fused employees are pro-group motivated and exert more effort than non-identity-fused employees. The mode of inquiry of this study is a real effort experiment with pre-determined incentives and conducted as an online ex-periment for 152 employees selected randomly from one of the major Sri Lankan apparel industry networks. The findings from the experimental survey revealed that the majority of employees with fused identities are more pro-social, and pro-group motivated and those who are pro-group motivated exerted more effort than the subjects who are not motivated. Also, identity-fused subjects exert more effort than non-identity-fused subjects. Thus, the outcomes prove that identity fusion and pro-group motivation are effective in improving the productivity of employees.

Engendering the Manufacturing Sector in Ethiopia: Uncovering the Controversy of Empowerment

Female workers have long been the face of the textile and garment manufacturing industry around the globe. They are considered as not only having naturally “nimble fingers,” but also being naturally more “docile and willing” to work in difficult situations. There is an underlying assumption that employment of women in the manufacturing industry will increase their job opportunities, enhance their access to and/or control over valuable resources, and empower them in decision-making. The development of the textile and garment manufacturing industry in Ethiopia has unquestionably opened employment opportunities for women constituting more than 80% of the labor force. By filling in an existing gap in research through addressing the workers’ self-perception of empowerment (referred to as mebkat in Amharic), this paper examines the emic views of how women perceive and experience empowerment. This is juxtaposed with an external definition of empowerment, as it is defined by the government and its international development partners, which presumes a positive correlation between employment and empowerment. Based on the case study of female factory workers in Hawassa Industrial Park in Southern Ethiopia and a closer analysis of research participants’ understanding of empowerment, this paper argues that Ethiopia’s budding manufacturing sector has not delivered on its promises.

Constructed wetland - microbial fuel cell (CW-MFC) mediated bio-electrodegradation of azo dyes from textile wastewater.

Azo dyes constitute 60-70% of commercially used dyes and are complex, carcinogenic, and mutagenic pollutants that negatively impact soil composition, water bodies, flora, and fauna. Conventional azo dye degradation techniques have drawbacks such as high production and maintenance costs, use of hazardous chemicals, membrane clogging, and sludge generation. Constructed Wetland-Microbial Fuel Cells (CW-MFCs) offer a promising sustainable approach for the bio-electrodegradation of azo dyes from textile wastewater. CW-MFCs harness the phytodegradation capabilities of wetland plants like Azolla, water hyacinth, and Ipomoea, along with microalgae such as Nostoc, Oscillatoria, Chlorella, and Anabaena, to break down azo dyes into aromatic amines. These intermediates are then reduced to CO2 and H2O by microalgae in the fuel cells, while simultaneously generating electricity. CW-MFCs offer advantages including low cost, sustainability, and use of renewable energy. The valorization of the resulting algal and plant biomass further enhances the sustainability of this approach, as it can be used for biofuel production, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and bio-composting. Implementing CW-MFCs as a tertiary treatment step in textile industries aligns with the circular economy concept and contributes to achieving several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Key Drivers and Barriers to Circular Economy Practices in the Global Textile and Fashion Industries: Sustainable Strategies for the Indonesian Batik Industry

Key Drivers and Barriers to Circular Economy Practices in the Global Textile and Fashion Industries: Sustainable Strategies for the Indonesian Batik Industry

Synergistic SERS Enhancement of Highly Sensitive and Reusable rGO-Ag-ZrO2 Thin Film Nanocomposite to Detect Synthetic Textile Dyes.

The textile industry is one of the main industries that benefited from the industrial revolution. Therefore, discharging of dyes from textile, paper, plastic, and rubber industries is inevitable. This colored wastewater prevents sunlight penetration and highly affects water sources. Cationic dyes such as Rhodamine 6G (R6G) and Methylene Blue (MB) obstruct plant growth, and most of these dyes are nonbiodegradable. Thus, cationic dyes are observed to be more toxic than anionic and reactive dyes. It is a great challenge to mankind to detect and remove these toxic dyes from the aquatic ecosystem. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is an emerging cost-effective technique for the detection of any analyte at trace levels. Further, it is very important to design a highly sensitive SERS substrate to detect toxic dyes in lower concentrations. Owing to the high cost of coinage metal SERS substrates, semiconductor-based SERS substrates have gained attention recently. Though pure semiconductors have poor SERS activity, incorporating metal and graphene derivatives can further improve their surface and optical properties and make them highly sensitive SERS active substrates. In order to address this, we attempted to synthesize a reduced graphene oxide/silver/zirconia (rGO-Ag-ZrO2) hybrid thin film nanocomposite using the facile liquid/liquid interface method for the first time. The synergistic SERS effect of the rGO-Ag-ZrO2 substrate is highly sensitive and efficient to detect R6G until 100 pM concentrations. The multifunctional and versatile application of the rGO-Ag-ZrO2 substrate, such as reusability by the photodegradation method and the detection of an antibiotic drug, was also explored for the first time.

Improved generative adversarial networks for denoising fabric defect images

In order to solve the problems of noise, blurring, and loss of detail in fabric defect images due to camera location and factory environments, a fabric defect image denoising method based on improved generative adversarial network (GAN) is proposed. A mathematical model is developed to simulate the noisy images of fabric blemishes in a real factory environment. GAN, as a deep learning method widely used in the field of computer vision, generates high-quality data samples through the competition between generators and discriminators. In this study, the traditional GAN is improved by introducing multiple loss terms and adopting a new adaptive weighting strategy in order to make the denoised image closer to the original clear image while better preserving the structural and detailed features of the image. In addition, the network structure is improved by introducing a multiscale discriminator, a convolutional block attention module (CBAM) and a residual network to capture feature information at different spatial scales more effectively and to promote the propagation of low-level features. The experimental results show that the method can effectively remove fabric defective image noise, and its subjective effect and objective indexes are better than similar algorithms. The research results are of great value to quality inspectors, related researchers, and image denoising technology professionals in the textile industry. These results help to improve the efficiency and accuracy of fabric defect detection and image denoising processing, thus promoting the development of related technologies.

Changes in hairiness of woven fabrics at the production and finishing stages

Advances in the textile industry have led to a shift from using empirical experience to design fabrics to using computer-aided systems. Objective fabric properties related to appearance, feel, and comfort are predicted based on the physical models. The look and feel of fabrics are greatly influenced by their complex surface topology, which can be defined by two main properties: roughness and hairiness. In this study, a roughness contactless measurement system originally designed for evaluating only the surface roughness was extended to evaluating the hairiness, which is quantified by spatial parameters obtained by the quadrat method. The modified system of Roughness Contactless Measurement system was applied to assessing work shirts across five production stages, and the experimental results demonstrated variations between gray and treated woven fabrics that could be attributed to shrinkage during water-based processes, subsequent drying under tension, and singeing. The gray and pretreated fabrics exhibited the highest hairiness, which was greatly reduced by singeing and stabilized during the finishing stage by an easy-care treatment.

Regional heterogeneity impact on capital structure: The case of the textile industry in Portugal

This study aims to analyze the impact of regional heterogeneity on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) capital structure. Specifically, this paper studies the regional impact on firms’ indebtedness through indicators that measure regional social, economic, and financial development, and also if the determinants that explain firms’ debt levels are different across regions belonging to the same country. An unbalanced panel data of 1,566 firms of the manufacturing textile industry in Portugal, over the period 2015-2020, is analyzed. Results suggest that regional development, namely regional expansion, and the number of bank branches impact firms’ indebtedness. These differences influence the firm’s access to different financial funds and can justify the geographical concentration of firms in some regions. We also found a substitute effect of bank and trade credit but only to firms located in the Centre region.

Barrier Properties Against UV Radiation of Woven Fabrics Coated With Micronized Pumice

Abstract This research primarily investigates the UV properties obtained in woven fabrics with different properties coated with micronized pumice. Most of the studies in the textile industry are based on the search for new technologies and materials to produce functional products. In this study, three different types of fabrics woven from polyamide/viscose, polyamide/linen and cotton/silk yarns were covered with 50-μm pumice material at 5%, 10%, and 15% ratios. At these rates, the effect of pumice coating on the physical and UV properties of the mentioned fabrics was investigated. SEM/EDS analysis, tear strength, fabric stiffness (bending length) and air permeability values of the coated fabrics were evaluated. According to the results of the study, it was observed that the UPF values of fabrics coated with 15% pumice were improved by 5.08 times in cotton/silk, 8.7 times in polyamide/viscose and 34.9 times in polyamide/linen compared to control uncoated fabrics.

Machine learning-driven prediction of biochar adsorption capacity for effective removal of Congo red dye

Congo red, a widely utilized dye in the textile industry, presents a significant threat to living organisms due to its carcinogenic properties and non-biodegradable nature. This study proposes a data-driven machine-learning approach to optimize biochar characteristics and environmental conditions to maximize the adsorption capacity of biochar for the removal of Congo red dye. Therefore, six machine learning models were trained and tested on a dataset containing eleven input parameters (related to biochar properties and environmental conditions) and adsorption capacity. The models were evaluated using performance metrics such as R-squared (R2), Mean Squared Error (MSE), and Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE). With the highest R2 (0.9785) and lowest RMSE (0.1357), Random Forest Regression (RF) outperformed other machine learning models. DT and XGB also performed well, achieving slightly lower R2 values of 0.9741 and 0.9577, respectively. The LR model performed the worst, with the lowest R2 (0.4575) and the highest RMSE (0.6821). Moreover, the reliability of these models was validated using a 10-fold cross-validation method. RF once again performed the best with an R2 value of 0.9762. Feature analysis revealed that the initial dye concentration relative to biochar dosage (C0), specific surface area (BET), and pore volume (PV) are the most significant factors affecting the dye adsorption capacity of biochar, while parameters such as carbon content (C), the oxygen and nitrogen to carbon molar ratio [(O + N)/C], and pore diameter (D) had minimal impact. This research demonstrates that machine learning models can accurately predict biochar’s contaminant adsorption capacity, enhancing wastewater treatment and promoting efficient, cost-effective environmental management.Graphical

Sustainable biodegradation of malachite green dye by novel non-pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa ED24.

Sustainable management of textile industrial wastewater is one of the severe challenges in the current regime. It has been reported that each year huge amount of textile industry discharge especially the dye released into the environment without pre-treatment that adversely affect the human health and plant productivity. In the present study, different bacterial isolates had been isolated from the industrial effluents and investigated for their bioremediation potential against the malachite green (MG) dye, a major pollutant of textile industries. The biochemical and molecular characterization of the bacterial strain showed the resemblance of most potent strain ED24 as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which showed effective bioremediation potential against the MG dye. During response surface analysis (RSM), best MG degradation conditions have been observed at pH 7.0, 37°C, 48h, and 200mg/L dye concentration, with highest degradation efficiency of 96.56 ± 0.8622 percent. Subsequently, supplementing various carbon and nitrogen sources increases MG decolorization by 1 to 2%, with beef extract (97.23%), sodium nitrate (97.46%), and maltose (98.67%). FT-IR results revealed the disappearance of distinct peaks, namely, 3328.275cm-1, 2102.842cm-1, 1101.140cm-1,and 559.04cm-1 from MG, and the formation of major intermediate compounds like leucomalachite green, benzoic acid, diacetamide, benzeneacetic acid, hexyl ester, ethyl 4-acetoxy butanoate, butanoic acid, and 2-methyl in GC-MS analysis of degraded dye sample confirms the biodegradation by bacterial strain ED24. The phytotoxicity studies on mung bean seeds confirmed MG dye toxicity reduction up to 67.53%, 54.16%, and 67.53% in biomass accumulation, root, and shoot lengths, respectively. Also, the microbial toxicity of MG was completely reduced on soil microflora Bacillus flexus, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Alternaria spp.The dual mitigation, both in microbial and plant systems, indicates the strong remediation potential of P. aeruginosa ED24 to break down MG dye ecologically sustainably.

The impact of green human resource management practices on organisational sustainability through green knowledge sharing

Orientation: This study investigated the linkage between Green Human Resource Management Practices (GHRMP) and organisational sustainability (OS).Research purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of GHRMP on OS with the mediating effect of green knowledge sharing (GKS).Motivation for the study: This research is pioneering in the Pakistani context, representing the significance of GHRMP in fostering OS.Research approach/design and method: This research employed survey questionnaire, and, using purposive sampling, data were collected from 420 managerial-level employees working in the textile industry of Pakistan. Data analysis was done using structural equation modelling with the use of Smart Partial Least Squares 4.0 software.Main findings: The study established a positive direct relationship between GHRMP and OS and also between GHRMP and GKS. This study also revealed that GKS has a significant mediation role in the relationship between GHRMP and OS.Practical/managerial implications: Managers in the textile sector can prioritise hiring individuals who value and possess skills in OS. They can implement training programmes that focus on sustainability practices like waste reduction and energy conservation. Managers can integrate environmental criteria into performance evaluation which motivates employees to prioritise sustainability in their roles. Top management support for GHRMP builds competencies that enhance environmental performance. Organisations aiming for sustainability should implement GHRMP at both organisational and individual levels to foster eco-friendly actions across the workforce.Contribution/value-add: The study provides useful recommendations for organisations on environmental issues especially in an emerging economy like Pakistan. It also innovatively examines the ways by which GHRMP can enhance OS in the textile sector of Punjab, Pakistan, where extensive industrialisation and environmental pollution are evident. Future research could discover additional dimensions of this concept with various mediators and moderators in different geographical contexts.

Green dyeing of cellulose diacetate fabric with disperse dyes in a liquid paraffin medium.

The conventional method of dyeing cellulose diacetate (CDA) fabric with disperse dyes consumes significant amounts of fresh water and dispersants, contributing to environmental pollution and health hazards. This study explored the use of liquid paraffin as an alternative to aqueous mediums for dyeing CDA fabric with Disperse Blue 56 dyes, eliminating the need for dispersants. An L16 orthogonal array was used to optimize dyeing conditions based on the color strength values. The fabric properties were evaluated through several techniques. These include tensile strength, colorfastness to washing and rubbing, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. These findings highlight that the textile industry can adopt a practical and environmentally friendly technique for dyeing CDA fabric, leading to a significant reduction in pollution.

Eco-Friendly Innovations in Textile Dyeing: A Comprehensive Review of Natural Dyes

Natural dyes have garnered increasing attention in recent years due to their environmentally friendly properties and cultural significance. The reintroduction of natural dyes in the textile industry is largely driven by growing awareness of the adverse environmental impacts of synthetic dyes. This review aims to explore the historical significance, extraction processes, mordanting techniques, and recent advancements in natural dyeing, as well as the challenges associated with their use. By incorporating insights from various studies and reviews, this paper provides a comprehensive understanding of the potential and limitations of natural dyes in textile dyeing.

Assessing national technological advantage in circular economy innovations for the textile and leather sectors: a patent-based analysis

ABSTRACT This paper aims to measure and monitor countries’ technological advantage in the circular economy related technologies in the textile and leather industry. Analysing USPTO patent data, first, we identified the patent classes which are more likely to include the technologies for circular economy in the textile and leather sector. Second, we identified how the capabilities relevant in these areas are distributed across nations. Our results show that Italy still lags behind other European and non-European countries in terms of technological capabilities for circular economy for the areas specific to the textile and leather sector. The results allow us to identify some of the national priorities to foster the competitiveness of one of the pillars of the Made in Italy industries.

Critical review on development of methylene blue degradation by wet catalytic methods

Abstract The development of textile, agriculture, and other related industries has increased the risk of excessive methylene blue (MB) emissions, making efficient treatment of MB an urgent issue in terms of the economy and environment. The most commonly used chemical treatment methods were wet catalytic methods, including catalytic wet air oxidation (CWAO), catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO), and photocatalysis. CWAO and CWPO both show fast reaction rates and are environmentally friendly. CWAO uses air as an oxidant at a relatively low cost and can effectively solve the leaching problem of the catalyst. CWPO employs inorganic peroxides like hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as oxidants to form radicals, showing high efficiency. Photocatalytic degradation utilizes light energy to transform pollutants into harmless molecules with fast kinetic. The selection and application of different methods are analyzed basing on the balance among cost, scale, and efficiency. Finally, the perspective of the effective removal of MB is summarized, containing multiple method combinations, catalyst synthesis optimization, and practical application with less side reaction and instrument loss. More promising technology should be considered in the future for better degradation of MB in the industrial field.

Comparative Analysis of the Effects of European Union Environmental Policies on the Textile and Clothing Sector of Turkey and Bangladesh: Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Objectives: This study investigates the impact of European Union (EU) environmental policies on Bangladesh's and Turkey's textile industries. It aims to identify the challenges both nations face in implementing these regulations and explore opportunities for sustainable development by comparing their approaches. Theoretical Framework: The research is grounded in environmental governance and industrial sustainability principles, emphasizing the interplay between regulatory frameworks and economic practices in developing countries. Method: A mixed-methods approach combines an extensive literature review with analyzing country-specific data from existing studies. This method provides a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and strategies employed by both nations. Results and Discussion: Findings reveal that compliance with EU regulations is challenging for Bangladesh and Turkey due to their reliance on textile exports. With its diversified economy, Turkey faces high financial requirements, while Bangladesh struggles with rapid population growth and unplanned industrialization. Common issues such as air and water pollution, along with inadequate waste management systems, are prevalent in both contexts. Differences emerge in regulatory frameworks and resource management, influencing their respective adaptation strategies. Research Implications: The study highlights the need for customized policy interventions and international collaboration to support compliance efforts in both countries. Enhanced environmental practices can foster the achievement of Sustainable development Goals (SDGs) while ensuring economic growth. Originality/Value: This research offers a comparative analysis of two major textile-exporting nations, providing fresh insights into balancing economic development with environmental responsibilities in the global textile sector.

Performance analysis of functional properties of silk fabric enhanced via in situ grafting modification

AbstractSilk, a natural polymer protein fiber, possesses exceptional properties such as smoothness, softness, breathability, and drapability. However, silk is susceptible to photochemical reactions in light, leading to yellowing, brittleness, and deterioration on the fabric's surface, which significantly affects its service life and performance. In this experiment, we utilized ascorbic acid and hydrogen peroxide as the initiation system, along with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) as a graft monomer, to conduct graft copolymerization modification on silk fabrics. To enhance the light resistance of silk fabrics in the textile industry, the grafting parameters were optimized and the rate adjusted to impart the anti‐UV and anti‐aging properties. Moreover, the whiteness value drastically increased from 26.71% to 88.23%, the breaking strength surged from 174.6 to 211.5 N, and the contact angle surpassed 90° at an 8.8% grafting rate, resulting in heightened hydrophobicity. Finally, the modified silk fabrics exhibited remarkable light resistance, rendering them better suited for advanced textile applications. This research work provided a window of opportunity to prevent yellowing and improve resistance to light, making modified silk fabrics more suitable for various textile applications in the future.Highlights Grafted silk fabric's whiteness increased from 26.71% to 88.23%. Silk had a contact angle over 90° and increased hydrophobicity at 8.8% grafting. Modification improves silk's optical and mechanical properties. Aging reduces silk's thermal properties and fiber strength.

Unpacking role of environmental awareness in the triad relationship of religious commitment, environmental values and intentions in Indian textile industry

Unpacking role of environmental awareness in the triad relationship of religious commitment, environmental values and intentions in Indian textile industry