Fast fashion synthetic fabric waste as an alternative noise absorbent material

The fast fashion industry produces overabundant fabric-based waste, yet these fabrics possess the fundamental characteristic of a noise absorbent material. Generally speaking, noise absorbent material can be used to achieve a state of acoustic comfort. Unfortunately, most commercial absorbents were made from a non-biodegradable material with high embodied energy, values which strand far from the concept of sustainability. This paper tried to explore the potential of converting the fabric-based waste produced from the fast fashion industry into noise absorbent materials. The experimental research method was applied to this study by exploring five types of synthetic-based fabric commonly used in the fast fashion industry, namely: Polyester, Fleece, Hyget, Rayon, and Scuba. Two models of cut, long and thin cutting, and random square cutting were also applied to the samples used in this research. The Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) values of the samples were examined using a custom-made acrylic box attached with two Sound Level Meters (SLM) on the opposite chambers. The result showed that samples from rayon with stripes cutting achieved the highest value, yet it was still slightly under stone wool’s NRC value, which was 65% compared to 69%. This research underlined the possible relationship between fabric’s mechanical properties such as fabric structure, stiffness, and material that may lead to the creation of more porous space, which could support better noise entrapment capability. Although further studies are still needed, the slight difference in noise reduction value between the research samples with conventional noise absorbent material, such as stone wool, demonstrated how fast fashion fabric waste might potentially be an alternative noise absorbent material.