Open Access

Madeleine Eppinger, Yordan Kyosev, Martin LuccarelliORCiD

• Conventional synthetic fibers such as polyester raise environmental concerns due to their reliance on fossil-based feedstocks and their non-biodegradable, rarely recyclable waste. The rise of fast fashion has further intensified textile waste. Plastic production consumes about 8 % of global petroleum resources and synthetic polymers can persist for extremely long periods, accounting for up to 95 % of marine debris. Therefore, the bio-based, biodegradable polyester polylactic acid (PLA) with excellent material properties for textile application is considered as one of the most promising biopolymers, as it exhibits many properties similar to PET. However, its relatively poor thermal stability and its lower glass transition temperature remain limiting factors when considering large-scale substitution. This review paper deals with the thermal requirements for synthetic fibers in the industrial production of clothing textiles. Furthermore, current developments for modifying the thermal properties of PLA fibers are researched to enable their application in the textile manufacturing. The glass transition temperature of PLA is close to the temperatures used in textile finishing and subsequent care, which leads to degradation of the material. There are already promising approaches to increasing the glass transition temperature of PLA through targeted material modifications. Further development is required to establish PLA fibers as a viable alternative to PET fibers, ensuring industrial processability while maximizing ecological benefits, particularly through controlled compostability and reduced textile waste.