Propuesta de valorización de residuos textiles pre-consumo mediante una estrategia de economía circular en la empresa Corpotex de Colombia S.A.S.

Abstract

The textile industry is the second most polluting industry in the world, after the oil industry, and one of its greatest environmental impacts is the inefficient management of waste, which often occupies large areas in landfills. More than 147,000 tons of textile waste are disposed of annually at the Doña Juana landfill. The waste problem is further intensified by the fact that, in Colombia, the textile sector accounts for 89% of the economy in terms of microenterprises, while in Bogotá, production is carried out by approximately 4,120 companies. To take advantage of pre-consumer waste, this study proposes the valorization of textile waste generated during the physical transformation processes at Corpotex de Colombia S.A.S. The company's production processes generally generate large volumes of fabric scraps and remnants, as well as defective garments. This is addressed through a characterization of the unit operations involved in the company's textile production process using a material balance, with the aim of identifying the processes with the highest generation of textile waste. Likewise, a literature review is conducted to identify the relevance of a valorization alternative based on the production of customizable characters that incorporate emotional value for customers. Finally, the economic feasibility of the proposal is evaluated through future sales scenarios, demonstrating that even under the worst-case sales scenario, the proposal generates a significant profit for the company.