Polyester

POLYESTER

 

Material Guide

 

Category: 
Synthetic material, non-renewable
Other names: 
Polyethylene terephthalate, PET, Microfiber, rPET, Recycled polyester
Short description: 
Polyester is a polymer derived from crude oil, composed of compounds from the ester family. It is a fully synthetic material that is non-biodegradable. Polyester biter or resin has water-resistant features, it is durable and lightweight, but it is also highly flammable and it melts quickly.
Impact on the environment: 
High. All of the steps of production are harmful to the environment as it is highly toxic. The low-cost production also often exploits uneducated low-paid workers, creating social impacts as well. Polyester itself is not (except plant-based PET) biodegradable and contributes to huge microplastic pollution.
Use: 
Clothing/footwear industry, home textiles and furnishings, food and drink packaging, delivery packaging, construction industry, and more…
Types: 
Textile-PET, Resin, bottle / A-PET, Film-PET
What to look for? 
You can look for a plant-based PET (mostly sugar-cane) and also for recycled polyester. Look for brands that are providing repair services so you can have your polyester garment fixed rather than tossing it away. Responsible brands are using recycled polyester, produced under Oeko-TEX Standard 100, or GRS – Global Recycle Standard, or other certifications.
Did you know? 
Every time you wash your synthetic clothes you release as much as 700,000 microscopic fibers into the water? If they are polyester, they will not biodegrade.
Comments (0)
Join the discussion
Read them all
 

Comment

Hide Comments
Back

This is a unique website which will require a more modern browser to work!

Please upgrade today!

Share