Recycled Polyester - What is it?
Recycled polyester is a type of polyester fibre that is made from recycled materials. It is produced by melting down post-consumer or post-industrial waste, such as Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), a type of plastic typically used in the production of plastic water bottles or packaging, and then spinning the melted material into polyester fibres. This process helps to reduce waste and prevent plastic from ending up in landfills or the environment.
The production of recycled polyester requires less energy and resources than producing virgin polyester from non-renewable resources, such as petroleum or natural gas. It also helps to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production of virgin polyester.
As with virgin polyester, recycled polyester can be used in the production of a variety of textile products, including clothing and bedding. It has many of the same properties as virgin polyester, such as durability, wrinkle resistance, and moisture-wicking, but it is produced with a lower environmental impact.
When purchasing products made from recycled polyester, it is important to look for certifications such as Global Recycled Standard (GRS) or Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) to ensure that the product meets certain environmental and social standards. Additionally, it is important to properly care for and
dispose of products made from recycled polyester to reduce any negative environmental impacts.
Is recycling polyester “greenwashing”?
The term "greenwashing" typically refers to the practice of companies making misleading or exaggerated claims about the environmental benefits of their products, often in an attempt to appeal to consumers who are concerned about sustainability.
Recycled polyester as a material isn't necessarily considered greenwashing in itself as its use can support the reduction of waste and promote sustainability.
However, a company could use recycled polyester as a marketing tactic where they mislead the consumers by not fully disclosing the percentage of recycled material used in their products or the environmental impact of their production and supply chain. For example, a company may claim to use recycled polyester in their products but still source it from a supplier that engages in unsustainable practices or uses excessive energy and resources in the production process. Additionally, a product made from recycled polyester may still be treated with chemicals or dyes that are harmful to the environment.
To find out if a product of recycled material is produced responsibly, one can benefit from doing proper research on the production process and the transparency in a company's environmental practices, such as certifications like the Global Recycled Standard or the Bluesign Standard, which ensure that products are made from environmentally responsible materials and are manufactured using responsible practices. It is
also important to consider the entire lifecycle of a product, including how it is produced, transported, and disposed of (recycled polyester can be recycled again), to make informed decisions about sustainability. Clearly, how we as consumers use, care for, and dispose of the product also plays a significant part in how sustainable it can be considered.
Recycled polyester is a much better alternative than normal polyester and it's tough to say that it's greenwashing
Why do we choose not to use it?
We are happy that more and more production is switching over to the recycled version of polyester but that still doesn’t necessarily make the material ideal for sports performance.
Polyester, recycled or not, isn’t in our opinion a good fit with active outdoor sports in particular because of its poor antimicrobial resistance (=your sweat smells a lot after using it) and the non-existing thermoregulating properties of the material.
Our choice of Material
We want to be sustainable, meaning that we use natural materials for our clothes. We want to be responsible with the products that we offer, meaning that we require that the material we use in our fabric has obtained internationally recognised certifications that demand ethical animal rights and sustainable production. And we want as much performance as possible, meaning we opt for a material that produces the right level of stretch and durability for golf, a naturally soft feel, thermoregulation management to keep you comfortable, and finally, a material that handles your bad sweat odour better than the alternatives. For us, this is why we use 100 percent ZQ Certified Ethically Produced Merino Wool. Read more about organic merino wool and the general benefits of wearing merino wool.
Wish to Compare Different Materials?
We made an entire guide on fabrics and how they stand against each other.