what really happens to your clothes in their afterlife?

what really happens to your clothes in their afterlife?

This site expands on my research project on chemical recycling in the textile industry, asking the question: "how we can break down synthetic fabrics at the polymer level and turn 'waste' back into raw material?"

Open research paper

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Read the full research paper.

Read the full research paper.

Dive into my 36-page research paper on chemical recycling, sustainable engineering , and the future of circular textiles.

Dive into my 36-page research paper on chemical recycling, sustainable engineering , and the future of circular textiles.

Follow the journey of a T-shirt.

Follow the journey of a T-shirt.

See a step-by-step flow chart—enhanced with images—that traces how a synthetic garment can move from landfill-bound to chemically recycled and reborn as new material.

Explore my Pinterest closet.

Explore my Pinterest closet.

Scroll through real pieces where I break down each item by fiber makeup and polymer type to connect chemistry to everyday choices.

Scroll through real pieces where I break down each item by fiber makeup and polymer type to connect chemistry to everyday choices.

01 — Official Research Paper

01 — Official Research Paper

01 — Official Research Paper

This project began as a formal research study on chemical recycling in the textile industry. What started as a project on fast fashion in my AP Research classroom, soon become an analysis on how we can reuse textile waste and create a circular economy.

This project began as a formal research study on chemical recycling in the textile industry. What started as a project on fast fashion in my AP Research classroom, soon become an analysis on how we can reuse textile waste and create a circular economy.

What you’ll find in the paper

What you’ll find in the paper

What you’ll find in the paper

• Overview of global textile waste • Mechanical vs. chemical recycling • Case studies on chemical recycling companies in the textile industry • Interviews with MIT and Georgia Tech Experts • Survey of Generation Z's thoughts • Scalability, limitations, and future challenges

Download / View Full Paper

Download / View Full Paper

Download / View Full Paper

Open research paper

© 2025 Ruth Piana. This paper was originally submitted as part of the College Board AP Research program. Reproduction or reuse without permission is prohibited.

02 — Flow Chart: The Life of a Synthetic Garment

02 — Flow Chart: The Life of a Synthetic Garment

Not everyone wants to read a full research paper, so I built a visual flow chart to show what actually happens to a synthetic garment after you’re ‘done’ with it.

Here, you'll be able to better see the circularity chemical recycling would allow.

Not everyone wants to read a full research paper, so I built a visual flow chart to show what actually happens to a synthetic garment after you’re ‘done’ with it.

Here, you'll be able to better see the circularity chemical recycling would allow.

four assorted-color trash bins beside gray wall
four assorted-color trash bins beside gray wall

You decide to get rid of a garment

You decide to get rid of a garment

A rip, stain, or giant coffee spill made a shirt "unusable"?

Goodwill Store sign
Goodwill Store sign

Your options: trash, donation, or resale

Your options: trash, donation, or resale

No matter your choice, your shirt often ends up at the same place.

A large pile of garbage sitting next to a metal fence
A large pile of garbage sitting next to a metal fence

Where it actually ends up? Landfill

Where it actually ends up? Landfill

The majority of our clothing at the end of their lifecycles end up in a landfill.

WHY? LOOK AT THE ALTERNATIVES.

WHY?

LOOK AT THE ALTERNATIVES.

Downcycling = reused once

Clothing gets mechanically recycled into scraps often used for stuffing pillowcases and couches.

Upcycling = time-consuming

An amazing way to make one-of-a-kind pieces yet can be a very time-consuming process. It is often hard to scale.

Both?

Stop a garment from have a circular lifestyle, where it becomes recycled over and over again.

CHEMICAL RECYCLING KEEPS THE CHAIN FROM BREAKING.

CHEMICAL RECYCLING KEEPS

THE CHAIN FROM BREAKING.

Chemical recycling pathway

The garment is broken down and repolymerized. Then, new cloth is made from old, allowing for us to reuse resources we already have and create sustainable material usage.

The garment is broken down and repolymerized. Then, new cloth is made from old, allowing for us to reuse resources we already have and create sustainable material usage.

The garment is broken down and repolymerized. Then, new cloth is made from old, allowing for us to reuse resources we already have and create sustainable material usage.

New material, new product

It returns as fresh synthetic fiber and new clothing.

03 — Pinterest Closet: My very own textile lab

03 — Pinterest Closet: My very own textile lab

03 — Pinterest Closet: My very own textile lab

To connect my research back to everyday life, I started treating my closet like a mini materials science lab. On Pinterest, I post clothing pieces and break down what they’re actually made of.

To connect my research back to everyday life, I started treating my closet like a mini materials science lab. On Pinterest, I post clothing pieces and break down what they’re actually made of.

Inside my Pinterest closet

Inside my Pinterest closet

Inside my Pinterest closet

• Outfit photos with fiber breakdowns • Analyzing how much of my closest is synthetic versus natural • Thoughts on fast fashion vs. long-term pieces • Links back to chemical processes from my research

• Outfit photos with fiber breakdowns • Analyzing how much of my closest is synthetic versus natural • Thoughts on fast fashion vs. long-term pieces • Links back to chemical processes from my research

Visit my Pinterest

Visit my Pinterest

Visit my Pinterest

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Ruth Piana

Recycle Your Fashion