While there are seemingly endless choices for sustainable fabrics, from organic cotton to bamboo to hemp, recycled PET is arguably the most sustainable—but may be the most misunderstood as well. Today’s glossary entry is dedicated to giving this rising star its due and clarifying misconceptions about the process from bottle to your closet.

Most plastic bottles we consume are made from a material called PET (polyethylene terephthalate). You likely have several iterations of PET in your home now: from water and soda bottles to detergent containers. In fact, any bottle marked “1” for recycling is PET, making it the most recycled plastic in the world.

Given the abundance and cost effectiveness of raw materials, using recycled PET for clothing is becoming increasingly popular in the green textile industry. But how do old bottles become clothing? The process is relatively simple: Once a PET bottle is recycled, it’s sent to a processing plant where it’s washed and shredded into flakes. The cleaned flakes are melted down and shaped into long, thin fibers. The fiber is then spun into yarn. The end product is 100 percent recycled polyester. By using recycled polyester instead of new petroleum, energy consumption is reduced by 60 percent, without causing additional harm to the environment.

No other fabric in the world is produced with less environmental impact.

Recycled polyester can be manufactured into a myriad of different fabrics, but because of its antimicrobial properties, wicking power, and breathability, recycled PET is most often made into active wear or t-shirts. Patagonia and Nau are leading the charge in recycled PET active wear. Our friends at A Lot to Say proudly adopted recycled PET for their all of t-shirts, and added AirDye to the process to further reduce their environmental impact.

photo credit: holeymoon/flickr

It’s no surprise that hot, dry weather means a big increase in water use. What may surprise you is that water use can more than double during the summer. Here are some tips to cut back on water use during these warm months:

+ We recently learned that the average golf course in Palm Springs uses enough water in a single day to supply a family for four years. If you’re a golfer, opt for an eco-friendly course. Check out the top seven most environmentally friendly ones in the USA.

+ Let your lawn turn brown. It’s a common misconception that brown lawns are dead. Let them turn brown during the hot summer months and revive them when the weather cools. Doing so can save cut back water use by 40 percent in the summer.

+  Install low-flow faucets. Traditional flow faucets use up to two gallons of water a minute. Low-flow models cut that number by 20-40 percent. Look for the EPA’s Water Sense label when you’re at the store.

+ If you have an older toilet, try filling a large plastic bottle with water and place it in the tank. You’ll save the same amount of water that’s in the bottle every time you flush. See more water-saving ideas for your toilet.

+ Check for leaks—they account for ten percent of monthly water usage. Try a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If it leaks into the bowl before you flush, you’ve got a leak to fix.

What other ways have you found to save water around the house and while having fun?

In 1798, an obscure British scholar published the now infamous Essay on the Principle of Population, in which he warned that the population would quickly outgrow the earth’s power to produce food. Thomas Malthus was the scholar of course, and for years students of his philosophy have predicted the eminent collapse of food sources in the face of relentless population growth. And for years the Malthusiasns have been wrong. However, Reverend Malthus just might have the last laugh.

A new article in the Scientific American points to the alarming and growing disparity between the projected population growth and the current rate of food production. Food production needs to rise by an astonishing 70 percent by 2050 to meet population projections. The 70 percent increase is even more ominous considering that last year saw riots and resource wars in some parts of the world, due mainly to severe droughts, the rising cost of fuel, and water scarcity.

The projected shortfall was the topic of much discussion at this summer’s G8 meeting in Italy. If we are to avoid future catastrophe, the G8 insists that we must start adopting sustainability at every stage of food production.

It’s a simple equation: We have to grow and sustain larger food crops while reducing consumption of valuable resources like water and fuel.

For an even more detailed look at the environmental food crisis, read the UNEP’s Rapid Response Assessment.

photo credit: Thomas@BOD / Flickr

+ Proof that water conservation works—even in the desert.

+ Designer Jurgen Bey wants you to pull up a trunk and get comfy with his eco-friendly bench:

+ The Cash for Clunkers program gets a much needed infusion from the Senate.

+ The EPA explains why conservation is critical, even with a renewable resource like water.

Congressman Earl Blumenauer, who represents Oregon’s 3^rd district, is probably best known for authoring the 2005 “Water for the Poor Act,” which provides the world’s poorest populations with clean water and sanitation. He recently passed an amendment to the bill, securing an extra $25 million for clean water.

In true Oregonian fashion, Blumenauer’s most recent bill, the “OUTDOOR Act,” alleviates hefty tariffs for manufacturers of active wear and outdoor apparel. With a reduction in overhead for small businesses, the bill hopes to create more local job opportunities. The companies that benefit from the reduction in tariffs are, in turn, required to donate a portion of their savings to research initiatives that target ways to keep America’s apparel industry competitive and environmentally responsible.

Congressman Blumenauer’s environmental initiatives are admirable, but rare. Are your local representatives driving toward sustainability? You can locate and write to your local representative on the U.S. House of Representative website.