FROM LITTER TO RESOURCE: CIRCULAR UTILIZATION OF CIGARETTE FILTER WASTE IN SUSTAINABLE TEXTILE DYEING

Abstract

There has been a rapid increase in the use of synthetic textile colorants in textile industries all over the world, which discharge toxic waste into the environment. These wastes pose significant threats to humans. The toxic waste affects not only human life directly, but also the ecosystem. In addition to synthetic industrial waste, waste from cigarettes that people consume on a daily basis also affects the environment greatly. Throwing away cigarette butts after cigarette consumption hugely affects our environment, and so as living beings. Cellulose acetate material that makes these cigarette butts also contains toxic materials such as nicotine and other heavy metals. Thus, this study explores the possibility of incorporating textile coloration with dyeing source from consumed cigarette butts waste. The study focused on using 100% cotton textile substrate for dyeing with the extracted colorants to produce wearable products. The colorants were extracted at temperatures of 100-120° Celsius. The extracted dye was used to dye the chosen textile substrate at different temperatures. The produced colored fabrics were evaluated based on ISO testing standards for color fastness to washing, rubbing fastness, and color strength (K/S) and washing fastness. The results revealed a sustainable approach to dye extraction and textile coloration with adequate outcomes. Outcomes at a higher temperature range were reasonably acceptable in terms of color strength and fastness properties. The findings of this study can provide an alternative approach to managing the waste from consumed cigarette butts and also offer a sustainable approach to recycling waste in textile processes for wearable products.