Wearable electronic textiles (e-textiles) have the ability to sense, respond, and adjust in multiple environmental stimuli, which can interact with the human brain's capability for cognition, reasoning, and activation. Moreover, they have the ability to generate and store energy, keep track of the wearer's health, and react to varying situations. Conductive polymers, metal-wrapped yarns, as well as, carbon nanotubes with silver, copper, and gold nanoparticles are used in a variety of yarn structures to design circuits, switches, and fabrics directly. Knitting, stitching, embroidery, and other integration techniques are used to combine electronic components and electrical interconnects to develop flexible electronic clothing and smart wearables. For this purpose, controlled sensors, actuators, conductive embroidered or printed fabric, planer yarn, data transfer devices, conductive inks, electromagnetic shielding, power supply, and other components are incorporated in e-textiles design. Despite the progress made so far, wearable e-textiles still, lack the required performance and device features along with the issues related to complex fabrication techniques, end-of-life processing and sustainability. Hence, this review aims to discuss the recent developments, which address the future challenges concerning electronic (e-textiles).

This study explores the sustainable extraction and application of natural dyes from figs (Ficus carica) and Eucalyptus leaves using an aqueous alkaline medium. The dyeing process was optimized for cotton fabric using the exhaust-dyeing method. Fabrics dyed with Ficus carica extract and its blend with Eucalyptus exhibited enhanced color strength, excellent crocking fastness (rated 4–5), and good washing fastness (rated 3–4 on the gray scale). The use of Aloe barbadensis Miller as a bio-mordant significantly improved dye fixation, resulting in deeper, earthy shades, such as green, yellow–green, and yellowish brown. The highest K/S value (5.85) was recorded in samples treated with a mordant, sodium chloride (NaCl), and the combined dye extracts, indicating a synergistic effect among the components. Mosquito repellency tests revealed that treated fabrics exhibited up to 70% repellency, compared to just 20% in undyed samples. Antibacterial testing against E. coli showed that dyed fabrics achieved over 80% bacterial reduction after 24 h, indicating promising antimicrobial functionality. Air permeability slightly decreased post-dyeing due to the potential shrinkage in cotton fabrics. Furthermore, adsorption studies showed a removal efficiency of 57% for Ficus carica dye on graphene oxide (GO) under ultrasonication. These findings confirm the potential of GO as an effective adsorbent material for treating wastewater from natural textile dyes. Overall, the study highlights the environmental safety, functional performance, and multifunctional advantages of plant-based dyeing systems in sustainable textile applications.

Retrofitting existing buildings has become a critical strategy for reducing energy consumption, improving thermal comfort, and achieving carbon reduction targets in the built environment. Among retrofit measures, wall insulation plays a pivotal role in minimizing heat loss and enhancing building energy efficiency. Conventional insulation materials, although effective, are often associated with high embodied energy, limited recyclability, and environmental concerns. Consequently, bio-based composite materials derived from natural fibers, agricultural residues, and renewable binders have emerged as promising sustainable alternatives. However, the moisture sensitivity of lignocellulosic materials remains a major challenge that can compromise thermal performance, durability, and long-term service life. This review provides a comprehensive and critical assessment of bio-based hydrophobic composite panels for wall insulation in retrofit applications. Unlike previous reviews that have primarily examined bio-based insulation materials, natural-fiber composites, or hydrophobic modifications separately, this study integrates these interconnected research domains within a unified framework. The review systematically examines raw material selection, composite panel manufacturing processes, hydrophobic surface-engineering strategies, thermal and moisture-related performance, durability characteristics, retrofit implementation approaches, and sustainability considerations. The analysis demonstrates that hydrophobic modification significantly reduces moisture uptake, enhances dimensional stability, and preserves thermal-insulation performance under varying environmental conditions. Natural-fiber-based composites, including hemp, flax, jute, bamboo, coconut fiber, and agricultural residues, exhibit competitive thermal conductivity (λ) values while offering reduced environmental impacts compared with conventional insulation materials. Furthermore, the integration of advanced hydrophobic treatments improves resistance to water penetration, biological degradation, and freeze–thaw damage, thereby increasing the long-term reliability of retrofit insulation systems.

The textile sector is a major source of global pollution and resource depletion, generating waste at every stage of production, from spinning to garment manufacturing. This study addresses the critical need for sustainability in the textile industry by exploring the recycling of pre- and post-consumer textile waste to produce terry fabric. This research emphasizes a sustainable approach to recycling, utilizing pre-consumer waste, such as blowroom and carding waste, alongside post-consumer waste from discarded garments. These recycled fibres were spun into yarn and woven into terry fabric, and their properties compared to those of virgin cotton terry. While virgin cotton terry exhibited minor advantages in visual and tactile qualities, other properties remained consistent across all samples. A cost analysis further demonstrated the feasibility of producing medium to high-quality terry fabric from recycled yarn, providing a cost-effective alternative to virgin cotton. The research work contributes to the advancement of sustainable textile production, underscoring the potential of recycling to mitigate the environmental impact of the textile industry.

The construction sector plays a significant role in global energy consumption and carbon emissions; improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings a fundamental requirement for sustainable development. Retrofitting the internal walls of buildings requires insulating materials that not only provide effective thermal performance but are also environmentally friendly, low-carbon, and compatible with circular-economy principles. In this context, recycled textile materials, especially cotton and polyester, are gaining increasing attention as sustainable insulation systems. This review article aims to critically evaluate the thermal insulation, environmental performance, and potential use of woven textile insulation structures based on recycled cotton, recycled polyester, and an equal combination of both in internal wall retrofitting. This article systematically reviews the available scientific literature and presents a conceptual framework based on multilayer woven structures. This review highlights that increasing the number of layers can play a significant role in improving thermal resistance, reducing heat transfer, and limiting internal energy loss by increasing the static air spaces between the fibers. Furthermore, the use of recycled textiles can also achieve environmental benefits such as reducing textile waste, conserving natural resources, and reducing overall carbon emissions. The research also offers a useful guiding framework for the development of sustainable building technologies based on low-carbon construction, efficient use of resources, and a circular economy.