Source: EcoTextileNews Concern over recycled polyester
TAIPEI – [13.05.08] Textile industry
sources in Taiwan have revealed to our new sister publication – The Textile Dyer – that some suppliers of
polyester fabrics made from recycled bottles have been taking things a little
bit too literally, and have put financial gain ahead of environmental common
sense.
Clothing retailers and brands could
be in for a nasty surprise when they find out that some of the bottles used to
make their textiles have never actually been used as drinking bottles by
consumers.
One reliable industry insider, who
refused to be named, has claimed that the demand for used bottles, from which
recycled polyester fibre is made, is now outstripping supply in some areas and
certain cynical suppliers are now buying NEW, unused bottles directly from
bottle producing companies to make polyester textile fibre that can be called
recycled.
Retailers and brands that can fully
trace their supply routes are likely to be able to put a stop to this practice
but those who buy fabrics and garments on trust, with little knowledge of where
they come from, may find themselves exposed to accusations of greenwash and
subsequent brand damage.
A related issue involves the dyeing
of the recycled polyester fibres which are claimed by some dyers to be less
consistent than virgin polyester. This is resulting in increased levels of
re-dyeing which of course has massive environmental impacts of its own.
The demand for recycled polyester is
growing rapidly and although as the commercial scale of production gathers
pace, there is growing concern that dyeing consistency in some qualities is
limited.
If you have any comments on the
consistency of recycled polyester compared to virgin fibre please e-mail: [email protected]
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