Circularity of Cotton

Cotton Circularity

The circular economy, in fashion, home goods, or any industry, is regenerative by design. Instead of becoming waste, materials create new products or are returned to the earth. Circular fibers like cotton are created from nature and return to nature, breaking down in the right conditions.² 

Consumers value circularity and associate it with cotton: To achieve better circularity, 75% of consumers would like to see companies use more cotton to make apparel.³ And with 84% of industry professionals designing with circularity in mind,⁴ cotton is the natural choice to meet sustainability goals while advancing the circular economy. 

Circular Cotton: A Sustainable Life Cycle 

You know cotton as comfortable, durable, and incredibly versatile — a natural fiber you can use in products as wide-ranging as shirts, sheets, wet wipes, and even 3D printed buttons. 

Cotton can also be reused, recycled,¹ and returned to the earth.² So whatever product you make, there’s a circular path ahead when you make it with cotton. 

Reuse 

Well-made cotton textiles are durable, maintaining quality and comfort through years of wear and washing. This longevity makes cotton ideal for reuse, including in the secondhand market. Cotton’s reusability reduces the demand for new materials and minimizes waste. 

Recycle

Textiles made with 100% cotton can be recycled¹ to create new products. Recycled pre- and post-consumer cotton textiles can be used in nonwoven products ranging from upholstery batting to construction materials. And thanks to technological advancements, cotton can even be used in 3D printing and injection molding processes to create biobased alternatives for products. 

Return to Earth 

Under the right conditions, 100% cotton products can naturally break down and return to the earth as a nutrient-rich compost,² helping regenerate soil and even supporting future cotton growth – a true circular cycle. Cotton also degrades faster than synthetic fibers across a range of environments.^5,6 

Brands and manufacturers can support the circular economy by choosing circular textiles like cotton as their preferred raw material. 

Endless Possibilities through Circularity 

Cotton offers a wide variety of circular applications throughout its life cycle. 

Cotton to Sugar 

Cotton Incorporated is dedicated to sustainable initiatives in the cotton industry, including patented research that explores the transformative process of circular cotton – converting cotton textile waste into glucose, commonly known as sugar. 

This unique approach unlocks new possibilities for repurposing cotton waste into bio-based additives, which are used in everyday products like detergents and cosmetics. This initiative not only extends the usability of cotton but could provide more opportunities for circularity in the textile industry. 

Using the Whole Cottonseed 

Cottonseed, a byproduct of cotton production, serves multiple purposes – it can be used to feed dairy cattle and can be crushed to make highly stable cottonseed oil. Depending on the U.S. cotton crop size, about 3.5 to 4 million tons of cotton are harvested each year. When fully utilized, this resource can significantly benefit both animal and human nutrition.  

Cottonseed and Sustainable Agriculture 

Because it’s a byproduct of cotton fiber production, cottonseed doesn’t require any additional agricultural inputs.  

Cottonseed also provides excellent nutrition to cattle because it’s high in protein, but also high in energy (fat) and fiber – in fact, whole cottonseed covers almost a quarter of cattle’s daily intake of crude protein, fat, and fiber. This combination of protein, fat and fiber in whole cottonseed is particularly beneficial for early lactation dairy cows. Currently, about 40% of the annual supply of whole cottonseed is consumed by dairy cattle. Multiple studies have shown whole cottonseed increases both milk production and milk fat when added to dairy cow rations.⁷ 

Human consumption of cottonseeds takes the form of cottonseed oil. Cottonseed oil has a 2:1 ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fats, contains monounsaturated fats, and is cholesterol free⁸. It has a naturally high smoke point (450°F) which makes it an ideal frying choice in commercial kitchens. It also has a neutral flavor that does not change over time, making it an excellent base for salad oils and marinades.⁹ 

Composting Denim 

Even denim, one of cotton’s most durable textiles, can support the circular economy in fashion by breaking down and turning into compost under the right conditions.¹⁰ In a 2024 study, researchers observed different types of denim breaking down in a compost windrow and concluded each type was compostable in this setting. 

Ultimately, the study confirmed that denim can be composted effectively, reinforcing cotton’s potential as a feedstock for soil enrichment. From earth to fabric and back again, cotton’s compostability helps bring circular fashion to life. 

Denim Sustainability