What is polyester?
Polyester is a manmade fibre, synthesized from petrochemical products by a process called polymerization. It is derived from crude oil petroleum and is a non- renewable resource. It is processed through a system called ‘cracking’ which treats the petroleum though intensive heating and cooling, fuel, solvents, pressure and catalysts to break down the molecular structure.
Once polymerized, polyethylene terephthalate PET (think water bottles) is created in a liquid form. This liquid can then be extruded, dried and chopped into small pellets and is ready to be melt spun through industrial spinnerets. Once cooled and hardened, it forms a polyester yarn that can then be woven into a textile. Although most sources are petroleum-based, some alternatives include recycled plastic (most commonly referred to as rPET), or bio-based polyester from agricultural crops or waste.
Recycled Polyester
Polyester can be either mechanically or chemically recycled using pre or post-consumer waste. However, according to the Textile Exchange Preferred Fibre Materials Report 2017, only 7% of all polyester used is recycled. When chemically recycled, the PET flakes are broken down into the base chemical molecule, which then goes back into the original polyester manufacturing system.
The most common form of recycled polyester is known as rPET, which comes from discarded clear plastic bottles instead of raw petrochemicals. Polyester fabric recycling, where the actual polyester yarn is recycled, is less common. In this case, scraps and textiles are broken down into fibre components that can then be spun into the recycled yarns.
The rPET Recycled Polyester Process
1. SelectionPET bottles are selected and sorted into bales at recycling centres and then sent to specific PET recycling facilities. Clear bottles are selected for their neutral base that allows for dying. |
2. CleaningThe bottles are cleaned, labels and caps removed. Steam and chemicals help wash and remove labels while infrared NIR equipment and metal detectors further remove any non-PET components. |
3. ShreddingThe bottles are shredded into flakes using a mechanical bale breaker. The flakes are cleaned once again and thoroughly checked so they have zero impurities. |
4. ProcessingThey go through a de-polymerisation and re-polymerisation process to be turned into PET chips. These PET chips or pellets can be used to make clothing, insulation, new water bottles, etc. |
5. MeltingThe pellets are then passed through a spinneret and melted and cooled into fibers, which are then smoothed, stretched and placed on reels in order to make yarn. |
6. Recycled Polyester YarnThe yarn is ready to be used and woven or knitted into fabric again, and has the same aesthetics and functional performance as conventional polyester yarn. |
It is estimated that in 2016 2.9 billion plastic bottles were diverted from landfills to be recycled back into polyester yarns.