About the Project

There is a problem with large quantities of waste being generated by NHS Scotland. Much of this waste is derived from single use products made from virgin material. We to identify 100% polyester textile waste from NHS Scotland and investigate the feasibility of recycling it into products that can replace the virgin materials used today. This project will identify the challenges associated with recycling mixed materials and provide evidence for a transition towards single fibre textiles. Ultimately achieving a reduction in NHS Scotland waste going to landfill.

We aim to change our reliance on virgin and mixed materials by identifying NHS Scotland products made from 100% polyester textiles, determining the feasibility of collecting these materials once they become waste and investigating the thermal recyclability of polyester. We have partnered with the company Project Plan B who have a unique facility, commissioned in 2024, to thermally recycle polyester waste textiles into pellets which they hope to use in new products. Careful consideration will be given to the possible contaminants in this waste and methods that could be implemented to mitigate their effects.

The impact of this work will be to increase understanding of fibre-to-fibre recycling with the ambition to reduce virgin material used in across the NHS Scotland. As well as being environmentally beneficial it may lead to increased positive opinion of resource management in the NHS Scotland for members of staff and the public.