How Is Recycled Polyester Made and Why Are More and More Brands Using It?

How Is Recycled Polyester Made and Why Are More and More Brands Using It?

Virgin polyester fabric is a popular material for bags because it is long-lasting, moisture-resistant, elastic, and, most importantly, inexpensive.

But, with all of these benefits, there is a disadvantage. Polyester manufacturing has a significant negative impact on the environment. It wastes enormous amounts of energy and pollutes wastewater with microplastics, chemicals, and other toxic materials.

Polyester is also not a sustainable material. The main components of the plastic fibers that comprise this fabric are derived from petroleum, a nonrenewable resource.

What Exactly Is RPET?

Recycled polyester (RPET) is a type of fabric made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

PET is made by combining ethylene glycol and dimethyl terephthalate, which are both derived from petroleum. It is the same material as virgin polyester fibers, but the recycled version of the fabric gets its PET primarily from discarded clear plastic water bottles.

Why Are More and More Brands Using Recycled Polyester? 

Here are some of the reasons why more and more brands are now using recycled polyester as the quintessential raw material instead of virgin polyester: 

1. Recycled polyester has the same quality as virgin polyester but requires substantially less energy to produce – Recycled polyester manufacturers aim to reduce CO2 emissions by 32% when compared to regular polyester. Furthermore, recycled polyester can help to reduce the extraction of crude oil and natural gas from the Earth in order to make more plastic.
2. Keeps plastics out of landfills and the ocean – Recycled polyester gives a second life to a non-biodegradable material that would otherwise end up in a landfill or the ocean. Every year, 8 million metric tonnes of plastic enter the ocean, adding to the estimated 150 million metric tonnes that already circulate in marine environments. If we continue at this rate, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050.
3. It Helps Produce Same-Quality Products but at a Lower Rate – Recycled polyester has nearly the same properties as virgin polyester, but with significant environmental benefits. It is long-lasting, lightweight, crease-resistant, colorfast, quick-drying, stain-resistant, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective. This is why polyester is commonly used in all textiles, including home textiles, fashion, sports and outdoor clothing, to name a few.

To Sum Up 

At Go Rewise, one of our many top-quality offerings is recycled polyester. Available in the form of performance fibers, yarns, and filament yarns – our recycled polyester comes in a wide variety of ranges and colors and are extremely versatile in nature!