bottles to boxers, part 1
how plastic trash becomes fabric
In today’s world of limited resources and ever increasing demand for sustainable product alternatives, we are all looking for ways to do our part and to make a positive choice for the environment. Our clothes are often overlooked as a way to make a difference.
When we are shopping, we often look for labels that say “organic” or “renewable,” but what do these mean? Are they the best choice for people who care about their world?
Cotton is the world’s largest non-food crop, estimated at 166 million bales in 2007 alone, according to the National Cotton Council of America. The use of pesticides and fertilizers are usually thought of as it’s only negative effect and that generates the demand for “organic” products. But in reality, the land use, water consumption, and all the energy and chemistry required to turn cotton fiber into fabric are the real problems. Other natural fibers such as hemp and bamboo may not require a lot of irrigation, but need even more processing to make the fibers soft and usable.
Should we be using such enormous amounts of the planet’s limited resources to grow these products if there is a better alternative?
In 2006, the United States sent over 2 million tons of plastic drink bottles to landfill. These bottles, identified by the number “1” in the recycle symbol are made of the plastic called PET. This material is the most recycled plastic on earth and can be processed in almost any location. Recycled PET, also called RPET, has a potential harvest of billions of pounds of material per year and is nearly free. But what can we do with it?
Recent innovations have created processes which allow companies to take discarded PET and turn it into soft, durable, and highly sustainable fabrics for a wide range of uses. You may know this material as polyester, but with uses such as micro-fiber, performance fabrics, even warm fleece, it’s come a long way since the days of disco suits and double-knit slacks. The use of recycled PET is a fast growing industry that has the potential to lessen our dependence on limited natural resources while offering great new products.
Fabric mills today turn the RPET yarns into amazing fabrics. These fabrics have characteristics that not only keep you warm and dry, but can wick away moisture, release stains, eliminate odors, kill germs, and even protect the lives of fire fighters and law enforcement. The ability for polyester to “breath” allowing moisture to escape while keeping you comfortable is revolutionizing the sports apparel industry. But at the same time, they can be softer than silk, or tougher than canvas.
Tomorrow – from landfill to retail.
