Is Recycled Polyester In Sports Apparel Better?

 

In today’s fast fashion cycling world, brands launch new designs and crazy colors faster than we can buy them.
As cyclists, however, we need to ask ourselves the question, how our apparel is made and how it is impacting the environment.

Is recycled polyester better?

Yes, recycled polyester is much better than virgin polyester from an environmental point of view!

While it has its same strength and elasticity, it brings several sustainable benefits because it bypasses its petroleum-based
production process. 

To put the virgin polyester vs recycled polyester debate into perspective,
the latter reduces:

• energy use by 50%
• CO2 emissions by 75%
• water consumption by 90%
• plastic waste: 1 kg of recycled polyester saves 60 plastic bottles!

The problems with recycled polyester

Let’s be realistic, though: when comparing virgin polyester vs recycled polyester, we’re still talking about the same material.

rPET poses the same challenges and environmental problems when it comes to:

• recycling
• microplastics 
• the fact that it’s not biodegradable

 

What is the difference between virgin polyester and recycled polyester?

The difference between virgin polyester and recycled polyester is that the former is created from scratch using fossil fuels, whereas
the latter relies on post-consumer plastic. 

While it maintains some of the problems of virgin polyester, recycled options help reduce waste and energy consumption, which makes
them a better option for the environment.

 

When it comes to cycling apparel, here are a few things you should look for in your favorite brand. 

• Does your brand use recycled polyester, or is all apparel made with virgin polyester?
• Does your cycling brand know where the materials they use are from and how they are made?
• Is your brand using Bluesign, Oekotex and Global Recycling standard certificated fabrics? 

 

Go have a brief look at your favorite Baju brands website, check if they have a Plan or if you can find a single word about recycled polyester, or
anything about their manufacturing process and sourcing of materials. 🙂

If you can’t find anything, chances are they don’t care much about environment. Fast fashion may be their goal, producing one new design
after the other using virgin Fibers, minimizing cost and maximizing profit. Mostly outsourcing production to countries with cheap labor and low
manufacturing ethics.

Spending a little more money for apparel made from recycled material, from brands that care about the environment pays off eventually, for you
and the planet we cycle in.