Is recycled polyester the solution to pollution in the sportswear industry?
For the past eight years, Sportswear of Tomorrow has been working with recycled polyester. Since its initial introduction to the market, we have been advocating for brands to transition to recycled materials.
However, it has since become mainstream, and some companies have resorted to greenwashing or even employing modern slavery to gather plastic waste for recycling. This is shocking!
We had hoped that humanity would collectively work towards making our planet cleaner and a better place for all to live.
Yet, here we are, with brands of all sizes claiming to clean our rivers and oceans, but in reality, doing nothing substantial. Moreover, not all recycled materials can be recycled again, leading to garments ending up in landfills once more.
Some brands have launched undyed fabrics, stating that less water is used. While water-based inks are indeed used, the quantity is so small that it can almost be disregarded. Nevertheless, all efforts should be acknowledged.
At FESPA’s SportswearPro, several researchers presented potential solutions to the problem. The use of bio-based materials could potentially address some of the issues, although we must ensure that this does not compete with agriculture. Fabrics derived from banana leaves, coffee grounds, and other sources could potentially replace polyester and recycled polyester.
However, another challenge lies in elastane, which is essential in many sportswear garments for achieving the desired fit. Currently, there are no satisfactory alternatives for elastane.
Nevertheless, we can begin with the present situation. Let’s replace all jerseys made of 100% polyester or recycled polyester with bio-based materials that are traceable, allowing us to track the origins of the base materials.
There are solutions to the challenges we face, and we should embrace them as soon as possible.