Chemical Processing of Natural and Synthetic Fibres: Environmental Impact, Challenges and Sustainable Alternatives

The textile industry is one of the most resourceintensive and chemically driven manufacturing sectors worldwide, significantly contributing to both global economic output and environmental degradation. Chemical processing of fibres –covering pretreatment, dyeing, printing, and finishing-play a vital role in giving functionality, color, and performance to natural and synthetic textiles. However, these quantities of water, energy, and chemicals, often leading to high levels of effluent toxicity, air emissions, and solid waste. Conventional wet processing methods, especially those involving reactive and disperse dyes, release hazardous organic compounds, heavy metals, and salts into aquatic environments, posing long-term ecological and human health risks. This review critically examines the environmental impact of chemical processing across fibre types such as cotton, wool, silk, polyester and nylon. It highlights sources of pollution, degradation pathways, and their persistence in ecosystems. The study also explores recent advances in sustainable processing, including enzymatic desizing, plasma and supercritical CO treatment, low-liquor-ratio dyeing, and nanomaterial-assisted finishing. Life 2 cycle assessments and green chemistry approaches are discussed as essential tools for reducing environmental burdens. The review concludes that adopting clean technologies, process automation, and circular economy principles can markedly lessen the ecological impacts of textile chemical processing. Transitioning toward closed-loop, energy-efficient, and biodegradable systems is vital for aligning the textile industry with sustainable development goals and safety standards