Recycling of textile wastes gives the fibre a second life in a rejuvenised life cycle and thus increases the total value of the fibre. The development of new, higher value products from recycled fibres will encourage utilisation of the fibres and contribute to the future sustainability of cotton industry.

The travel allowance was used to pay part of the cost for Mr Samuel Ello-Ekombo, a student from Arts & Métiers graduate school of engineering (France). Mr Ello-Ekombo applied in early 2011 for an internship with CSIRO to work on a project investigating the use of recycled cotton in polymeric composites.

The travel subsidy of $3500 from the CRDC was used to cover around half of his living allowance for the six month internship.