Textile Biodegradation Testing Pathways for Landfill and End-of-Life Assessment in Canada

As circular economy strategies and planned end-of-life pathways become increasingly important, understanding how different textile materials behave under disposal conditions is critical to improving waste diversion and environmental outcomes.

Biodegradation behaviour varies considerably by fibre composition, with natural and regenerated cellulose-based fibres generally demonstrating greater degradation potential under anaerobic landfill conditions than petroleum-based synthetic fibres, influencing degradation rates, methane generation, and overall environmental impacts. Despite growing interest in textile biodegradation, Canada currently lacks standardized textile-specific testing frameworks and landfill degradation protocols, while existing landfill monitoring primarily focuses on waste characterization, methane emissions, gas recovery, and national waste flows rather than the degradation behaviour of individual textile materials.