#recycled polyester

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It is said that 9% of plastic ever produced is recycled. I am going to make a deep dive of this statistic soon, but this seems to be the base number. In fact, very little of the plastic produced can even be recycled. Type 1 plastics are able to be recycled, but even then only 25% actually make it to be downcycled into other products, like clothing, or pillow stuffing, or clothing tags.

This seems like it is at least a good use of old plastic bottles though, right? If clothing is being made from plastic that would otherwise be dumped, than what is the issue?

It makes people complacent

People think that by purchasing a shirt made from recycled plastic that they are doing a good thing. As a result, they do not think too much about the impact of consumerism and buying too much stuff.

“Ethical“ and “environmentally friendly“ clothing does not matter when you are still buying far too much of it, and not wearing it that many times before tossing it out, or worse, “donating“ it.

So buying a recycled plastic shirt/etc can actually make you less likely to reduce your impact in other, more vital areas. This includes drastically reducing how much stuff you buy overall, using renewable energy sources, and eating more plant-based.

Recycled plastic is still plastic

Even though it is recycled, a shirt made out of recycled plastic is still a shirt made out of plastic. It is likely to wear far quicker than a natural fiber shirt, more likely to be trashed after a few wears, and it will release microplastics when washed.

This plastic is still problematic, and it really a band-aid solution for what is actually a gash of an issue. What we need to focus on is eliminating the production of new plastic in areas where they are not needed, such as in food and beverage industries, plastic bags, etc. This will be far better overall than trying to recycle the plastic and causing just as much harm, or even more harm, than what would exist if you tossed it in the garbage.

In fact, it is probably more eco-friendly to throw your plastic bottles in the trash than to have it remade into a T-shirt, as if it is in a landfill, it will not cause any microplastics, harm wildlife, or cause any pollution issues at all.

It is unnecessary

With all the natural fibers and seminatural fibers that we have, from cotton, hemp, and wool all the way to viscose and leather, there is no reason to use plastic of any kind in clothing. Especially for something like T-shirts.

I might understand its use in athleticwear or swimwear, as it is used to wick away moisture and sweat, making it good for these kinds of garments and can therefore be used for awhile without literally falling apart as you use them. But for things like pants, jeans, shoes, jackets, and shirts? It is far more harmful than useful.

Buying secondhand clothing made from natural and semi-natural materials are far better overall than buying a shirt or pair of leggings made from old plastic bottles. They also spread far fewer microplastics into the ocean.

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If you like what I have written and want to help me out:

I run a small business as a solo craftsperson who focuses on eco-friendly and sustainable creations of goods. I use natural fabrics fished from the trash and other secondhand locations like thrift shops.

You can find my Etsy store HERE.

I also have a Mercari shop for cheaper clothes

Honey Bee Outlands Crew

Show 'em who the queen bee is in honeycomb patterned socks, complete with friendly pollinators! A lightweight bootsock style, these don't just look great, but provide the padding needed for rugged activities, such as beekeeping!

Sizing US shoe size: women's 7-10.5, up to 9 men's Stretch around leg: 16" at cuff

All images: Adidas 

By Idha Valeur 

The all-white clothes range for Wimbledon, designed by Stella McCartney, is also going green by using recycled materials. 

In this new range of tennis-wear Adidas and McCartney are taking steps towards sustainability by creating the clothes out of recycled polyester, a synthetic fibre created using waste materials like plastic bottles and previously used clothing items that have been cleaned and processed again to turn them into new fibres ready for a new purpose. 

As well as using recycled polyester, the collection is also made by using parley ocean plastic, which is a material developed from upcycled plastic waste which was picked up and hindered from entering the oceans at beaches and coastal areas before being turned into yarn, according to a press release. 

Not only is the clothes made from recycled materials, with a better environmental footprint, but the technology used to create the range – dope dye technology – is also greening the line. The method wastes less water by incorporating colour directly into the material mix at the beginning stage in the production process. 

‘Therefore, when the fibre is formed, it is already the desired colour and as a result, reduces wastewater by at least 10 litres per garment,’ the release stated. 

New to the site from Solmate Socks, these gorgeous wool crews are a comfy Autumn treat! The beautiful fair isle sweater knit is made even cozier in these warm wool crews. 

Pictured Above:

Mahogany Wool Crew -- Made from 31% Recycled Wool, 45% Recycled Polyester, 23% Nylon, 1% Lycra

Ponderosa Wool Crew -- Made from 16% Recycled Wool, 32% Recycled Cotton, 32% Recycled Polyester, 19% Nylon, 1% Lycra

Aspen Wool Crew -- Made from 21% Recycled Wool, 22% Recycled Cotton, 36% Recycled Polyester, 20% Nylon, 1% Lycra

Mulberry Wool Crew -- Made from 20% Recycled Wool, 24% Recycled Cotton, 35% Recycled Polyester, 20% Nylon, 1% Lycra

Available in One Size: US shoe size: 7-10 women's, up to 6-9 men's Stretch, around leg: 15" at cuff