Being able to guarantee that sorted PCT are free from the presence of hazardous chemicals is a large barrier, especially for mechanical recyclers to safely purchase the outputs of the Fibersort. The lack of traceability of most textiles carries the risk of re-introducing textiles into the system which pose a threat to product safety due to chemical contamination. Currently, there is no single solution to tackle this challenge, and therefore, it is an area to be further explored to ensure the full potential for uptake of sorted PCT by recyclers. Another challenge of sorted PCT for recyclers is the presence of elastane in multiple blends. Although the Fibersort technology can effectively scan and recognise elastane as a material type, the extensive use of it in clothing hinders the recyclability of sorted PCT. Collaboration with brands and manufacturers to review the extensive use of elastane in production, and to highlight the adverse effect it has on the cyclability of clothing might prove valuable .

Additionally, when mechanically recycling PCT, the performance of the fibres still remains lower than those from virgin sources, mainly due to fibre length shortening. In order to comply with industry requirements, PCT fibres are being mixed with virgin fibres and re-spun intro threads that prove the necessary performance. Trials conducted recently by ECAP indicate that although PCT fibres can be used to create new textiles, the recycled content may only represent a fraction of the total. Cross chain collaboration to determine and test the necessary developments to improve quality of mechanically recycled PCT is key to its success in the market.