Regards They make greener clothes, biobased, and biodegradable, that don't contribute to plastic waste and microfiber pollution. And at least its not made in china! While much attention is given to rPET made from plastic bottles and containers thrown away by consumers, in reality polyethylene terephthalate can be recycled from both post-industrial and post-consumer input materials. As for landfill, the United States Environmental Protection Agency reported that the countrys landfills received 26 million tons of plastic in 2015 alone. As polyester breaks down, it releases toxic chemicals and greenhouse gases into the environment. Unsubstantiated reports claim that some recycled yarns take almost 30% more dye to achieve the same depth of shade as equivalent virgin polyesters. The process of recycling PET impacts the environment, too - According to Grossman, another issue concerning the recycling process of polyester is that the chips generated by mechanical recycling can vary in color: some turn out crispy white, while others are creamy yellow, making color consistency difficult to achieve. But first I have to back up and point out that recyclable is one of those amorphous words that have no accepted definition. We can recycle our fabrics by repurposing them, donating them, use them for quilting or in other waysbut somehow I think they really meant for us to believe that the plastic yarns could be recycled into new and equally beautiful new fabrics: the ultimate infinite closed loop. Chemical recycling is the alternative technology and it does exist. During chemical recycling, the materials are chemically dissolved into their precursor chemicals. Polyester, for example, would be broken down into DMT (dimethyl terephthalate) and EG (ethylene glycol). These chemicals are then purified and used to make new polyester fiber. But the reality is that this is difficult and expensive to do. Patagonia has made using recycled plastics a priority and gives a good overview of the process with interesting comments about the unique problems theyre encountering; read about it here. Patty and Leigh Anne founded this company to make the whole world safer while making our personal environments more beautiful. And lest you forget or choose to ignore what that kind of degradation entails, Chris Jordan, a photographer based in Seattle, has documented it for us. In a series of photographs entitled Message from the Gyre, he has documented what pieces of plastic are doing to albatross chicks on Midway Island. In the interest of a faithful representation of their plight, not a single piece of plastic in any of the pictures was moved, placed or arranged in any way. The images depict the actual stomach contents of baby birds in one of the worlds most remote marine sanctuaries, more than 2000 miles from the nearest continent. See all the images and more of Chris Jordans work on his web site, www.chrisjordan.com, [1]Reduce, re-use,re-dye?, Phil Patterson, Ecotextile News, August/September 2008, [2] Taking Landfill out of the Loop, Sarah Scott, Azure, 2006, Categories: Recycled polyester, recycled polyester, syntheticTags: Chris Jordan, downcycling, energy, fabric, Gyre, HDTP, Message from the Gyre, PET, PETE, plastic, polyester, recyclable, recycle, recycled polyester. Hi Jon: Although I think paying employees well is really important, as is water reuse, Im equally adamant about the chemicals used in the process so the fabrics we live with are safe. Hi India: I just know what Ive read and I read in The Textile Dyer (Concern over Recycled Polyester in the May 13, 2008 issue), that the demand for used bottles, from which recycled polyester fibre is made, is now outstripping supply in some areas. Do you have to use a plastic for your application? And even if the fabric were talking about is 100% polyester with NO chemical backings or finishes, there is a problem with recycling in the system itself. Since you said all certifying agencies of EU and USA offer these standards, do you mean that a certifying agency, such as Control Union, the Soil Association or the Organic Trade Association in the U.S., are offering them? Recycling textile waste is a step in the right direction to make fashion more sustainable. And Im afraid I didnt see any indication of that in the Lafayette web site. Several brands (H&M, Timberland, Nike, Esprit, Volcom), alongside the Textile Exchange association, had already committed in 2017 to using at least 25% recycled polyester by 2020 [2]. In partnership with The Good Goods. Synthetic fabrics made of polyester destroy ecosystems and nature. (LogOut/ Not only can they be used to/from the dry clearners, but they can be used in your closet to store clothes, because the woven fabric breathes. The bottles are sorted, chopped, melted, and reformulated into recycled polyester chips. Thank you so much for buying something through our link, as we may earn a commission that supports us. We carefully handpick products from brands we trust. William McDonough calls this downcycling, http://www.patagonia.com/us/patagonia.go?assetid=1956, Can You Recycle Synthetic Fabrics? Polyethylene terephthalate, the scientific name for PET, is a plastic, and therefore made from petrochemicals. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. To create polyester from crude oil, the oil needs to be refined first. hey! 
Change). Those calling for a less celebratory view of rPET defend that fashion brands and shoppers should be encouraged to favor natural fibers as much as possible. But recycling isn't nearly enough to limit the global plastic waste and microfiber pollution crisis. You can follow their progress on the Footprint Chronicles, which allows you to see the impact a number of their products have, from design through delivery. The global textile and apparel industry is one of the largest polluter globally. 
They contribute to the high amount of clothing waste that ends up in landfills every year. But now what fabric is truely the best to use? Recycled polyester offers many advantages compared to virgin polyester fibers manufactured from the raw material. Its fabrication requires plastic PET bottles. But I do know that almost all recycling facilities are in Asia. Another consideration is the introduction of PVC into the polymer from bottle labels and wrappers. Although bottles, tins and newspapers are now routinely collected for recycling, furniture and carpets still usually end up in landfill or incinerators, even if they have been designed to be recycled [2] because the fabric must be separated from other components if its part of an upholstered piece of furniture, for example. Inconsistency of dye uptake makes it hard to get good batch-to-batch color consistency and this can lead to high levels of re-dyeing, which requires high water, energy and chemical use.. Recycled polyester, also called rPET, can be made from post-industrial waste or other post-consumer plastics such as discarded textiles or ocean waste. It also helps to promote new recycling streams for polyester clothing that is no longer wearable, adds the label. I think Patagonia has an active take it back to be recycled program: their Common Threads program is pretty cool http://www.patagonia.com/us/patagonia.go?assetid=1956, I am looking for a fabric that I can claim is made from recycled materials and is also recylable to make childrens school bags. Mechanical recycling is taking a plastic bottle, washing it, shredding it and then turning it back into a polyester chip, which then goes through the traditional fiber making process. As for the recycling program specifically, Patagonia is one of the very few companies which have partnered with Teijin, which is (I believe) the only company today which actually chemically depolymerizes the plastics and then reconfigures them into new products with equal value. Citeo, the French organization in charge of organizing and developing packaging recycling, says 15 PET bottles must be recycled to make a polyester sweater [3]. If it would, results would differ, according to the report from the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment.
Recycling plastic consumes a lot of chemicals, energy, and water. The most significant benefit is its lower environmental impact. These different chemicals, with different molecular weights, renders the fabric non-recyclable. Period. [2] https://textileexchange.org/recycled-polyester-commitment/, 3] Cito https://bo.citeo.com/sites/default/files/inline-files/20191128_CITEO_2019_GUIDE%20EMBALLAGE_FR_1.pdf, [4] https://www.thegoodgoods.fr/mode/resource-basket-vegan-recyclee-et-recyclable-a-linfini-tbs/, Article realized in partnership with The Good Goods, the first French-speaking platform dedicated to eco-responsible fashion, Read our interview to Victoire Satto, the co-founder of the Good Goods, Read the article about the international labels to know, And watch the replay of the Digital Talk Regenerative Fashion, Lets Tackle Climate Change Beyond Sustainability, With Victoire Satto Co-founder & EIC, Host of the podcast ON(WARD) FASHION, The Good Goods, Arizona Muse Activist, Sustainability Consultant, Model, Nina Marenzi Founder & Director, The Sustainable Angle & Future Fabrics Expo, Elisabetta Baronio CSR & Sustainability Manager, Timberland EMEA. Have you discussed that aspect with them? Recycled polyester reduces carbon dioxide emissions by up to 20%. Polyester fibers take hundreds of years to decompose. It still does, as man-made fabrics can release microscopic plastic fibers -- the infamous microplastics. And half a million tons of plastic microfibers are dumped into the ocean every year, the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles. 2) Social compliance standards More and more eco-conscious consumers look for sustainable synthetic fabrics as a more ethical and responsible choice for clothing, especially for activewear and sports apparel. Plastic trash landing in the oceans is highly toxic and endangers ecosystems and marine life. I also know that the recycled polyester fabric we buy is made from PET (polyethlyene terephthalate). Thanks Jocky, for this information. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. if you can substantiate this please drop me a line. In the United States, a mere 9 percent of all plastics were recycled in 2015, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. They began working with people around the world: Romanian farmers who dew- or field-ret hemp stalks; a Japanese mill owner committed to green processes, even new methods such as using ozone to bleach fabric; a 100-year-old Italian mill that produces no wastewater; a Chilean mill shifting to entirely green processes; an Italian dye house that produces biodegradable, heavy-metal free textiles. From a strictly environmental point of view, recycled polyester is more sustainable than virgin polyester, yet still less efficient than most natural materials. And not all recycling processes are environmentally friendly. Our recycled polyester garments are mostly made from used packaging, and their origins are unknown. sport Also i can confirm you that manufacturers even in Europe have to buy unused plastic bottles to make the recycled polyester yarn because they dont find enough sources.
Here is everything you need to know about recycled polyester fabrics used in the fashion world and their sustainability. Not to mention the 20% of water they dont reuse which is therefore polluting our ecosystem. Its still impossible to trace the origin of recycled polyester. Interesting talk. 3) Recycle standards. The innovative polyester fiber reduces greenhouse gas emissions, water, and energy consumption. recycling On the other hand, recycled polyester removes the need for crude oil, refinery, and chemical extraction. Using recycled polyester lessens our dependence on petroleum as a source of raw materials, says the website of outdoor brand Patagonia, best known for making fleece from used soda bottles, unusable manufacturing waste and worn-out garments. Plastic polymers are created through polymerization. Pictures: Everlane Facebook, Pixabay, Allbirds Facebook. It can save wildlife and our environment. Panaprium is proud to be 100% independent, free of any influence, and not sponsored. To start, whether recycled or not, polyester generates plastic microparticles during each wash, microparticles which are released in the wastewater and then into the oceans. I dont think there are yet any mills in the U.S. that qualify for GOTS certification, but from life cycle analyses done by various companies, the energy used for transportation is a very small percentage of embodied energy in most fabric products because the resources used to produce the fabrics have such high embodied energy costs. Recycling has its limitations - Many garments are not made from polyester alone, but rather from a blend of polyester and other materials. 2. rPET is just as good as virgin polyester, but takes less resources to make - Recycled polyester is almost the same as virgin polyester in terms of quality, but its production requires 59 percent less energy compared to virgin polyester, according to a 2017 study by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment.
It takes thousands of years to decompose in this wet and cold environment. fashion Why? Turning ocean plastic and other plastic waste into new recycled fabrics for fashion is a technological revolution. On the consumer side, it is possible to refer to certain labels such as GRS (Global Recycle Standard), ko Tex STeP and Bluesign, which guarantee that a given recycled polyester has been produced as cleanly as possible, limiting the presence of solvents and other chemicals in its manufacturing. It worked: last month, the organization issued a statement celebrating that signatories have not only met the goal two years before the deadline, they have actually exceeded it by upping their use of recycled polyester by 36 percent. Those can then go back into the regular polyester manufacturing system, explained Magruder to FashionUnited. Hi Rosie: We think its a great idea to use re-useable bags of any kind and the idea of substituting re-useable bags for dry cleaning is terrific! It doesnt matter if garments are from virgin or recycled polyester, they both contribute to microplastics pollution. Keeping plastics from going to landfill and the ocean - Recycled polyester gives a second life to a material thats not biodegradable and would otherwise end up in landfill or the ocean. The best outfits for Lollapalooza focus on extraordinary impressive and super comfortable casual wear that showcases beautiful, unique, stylish clothing 10 Best Sustainable Clothing Brands From Belgium. Hello, this is a very interesting thread, exactly the information i was looking for. - Our Lovely Earth. They escape through our plumbing and sewage systems. The volume of textile microfibers entering the world's oceans is increasing at an alarming rate. More than a million plastic bottles are sold around the world each minute. But, just to give an example, five soda bottles yield enough fiber for one extra large T-shirt. The manufacturing of polyester fibers involves the polymerization of synthesized polymers compounds made from oil-derived materials.
Common misconception about recycling: you might think that if you throw your used drink bottle into the recycling container that it will be recycled into another new drink container. Nope. The melted resin contains contaminants and would not meet food grade requirements, so it is instead destined to go into a secondary product, such as yarn for the fabric we started talking about at the beginning of this blog. A better name for the recycling container would be collection container. After forming O Ecotextiles in 2004, they began a world-wide search for manufacturing partners interested in a cradle-to-cradle process of creating no-impact, perfectly safe, incredibly luxurious fabrics. Id like to show you how this is a misleading statement. Its a bit complicated, but stick with me because the industry is depending on your confusion. If you know what theyre really foisting on us, you might want to demand a better, cleaner, altogether different product!
The best organic jeans are comfortable, affordable, sustainable, and made from natural and eco-friendly materials such as organic cotton to 20 Best Stylish Lollapalooza Outfit Ideas You'll Love. Recycled polyester is a leading example of how the global textile and apparel industry works to find solutions to its catastrophic social and environmental impacts.
Recycled fibers are usually used with digital printing sublimation techniques to craft stylish swimwear and activewear, pants, shirts, shorts, jeans, blouses, dresses, jackets, and more. If the demand for fabric made from recycled PET forces the price of bottles up, at some price point for used bottles it would seem a logical step for unscrupulous bottle manufacturers to sell their virgin bottles as used and thereby save themselves the cost of collecting, sorting and cleaning the used bottles. In addition, recycled polyester can contribute to reduce the extraction of crude oil and natural gas from the Earth to make more plastic. Plastic waste, including PET bottles, is quickly becoming a global environmental and social issue. Recycled polyester releases microplastics - Last but not least, some counter argue the affirmation that rPET keeps plastic from reaching the ocean.
Sign up for email updates to keep up with Panaprium stories and product launches. Currently, fabrics identified as being recyclable really are not because the technology to recycle the fibers is either too expensive (chemical) or doesnt exist (mechanical) and the infrastructure to collect the fabric is not in place. Few manufacturers, such as Designtex (with their line of EL fabrics designed to be used without backings) and Victor Innovatex (who has pioneered EcoIntelligent polyester made without antimony), have taken the time, effort and money needed to accelerate the adoption of sustainable practices in the industry so we can one day have synthetic fabrics that are not only recycled, but recyclable. Greenpeace says : There is also an academic debate concerning the calculation of CO2 emissions in the comparison between virgin polyester and rPET because the impact of the fibers first life is not included in the overall environmental assessment of recycled fibers.
Change). Those calling for a less celebratory view of rPET defend that fashion brands and shoppers should be encouraged to favor natural fibers as much as possible. But recycling isn't nearly enough to limit the global plastic waste and microfiber pollution crisis. You can follow their progress on the Footprint Chronicles, which allows you to see the impact a number of their products have, from design through delivery. The global textile and apparel industry is one of the largest polluter globally. They contribute to the high amount of clothing waste that ends up in landfills every year. But now what fabric is truely the best to use? Recycled polyester offers many advantages compared to virgin polyester fibers manufactured from the raw material. Its fabrication requires plastic PET bottles. But I do know that almost all recycling facilities are in Asia. Another consideration is the introduction of PVC into the polymer from bottle labels and wrappers. Although bottles, tins and newspapers are now routinely collected for recycling, furniture and carpets still usually end up in landfill or incinerators, even if they have been designed to be recycled [2] because the fabric must be separated from other components if its part of an upholstered piece of furniture, for example. Inconsistency of dye uptake makes it hard to get good batch-to-batch color consistency and this can lead to high levels of re-dyeing, which requires high water, energy and chemical use.. Recycled polyester, also called rPET, can be made from post-industrial waste or other post-consumer plastics such as discarded textiles or ocean waste. It also helps to promote new recycling streams for polyester clothing that is no longer wearable, adds the label. I think Patagonia has an active take it back to be recycled program: their Common Threads program is pretty cool http://www.patagonia.com/us/patagonia.go?assetid=1956, I am looking for a fabric that I can claim is made from recycled materials and is also recylable to make childrens school bags. Mechanical recycling is taking a plastic bottle, washing it, shredding it and then turning it back into a polyester chip, which then goes through the traditional fiber making process. As for the recycling program specifically, Patagonia is one of the very few companies which have partnered with Teijin, which is (I believe) the only company today which actually chemically depolymerizes the plastics and then reconfigures them into new products with equal value. Citeo, the French organization in charge of organizing and developing packaging recycling, says 15 PET bottles must be recycled to make a polyester sweater [3]. If it would, results would differ, according to the report from the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment. Recycling plastic consumes a lot of chemicals, energy, and water. The most significant benefit is its lower environmental impact. These different chemicals, with different molecular weights, renders the fabric non-recyclable. Period. [2] https://textileexchange.org/recycled-polyester-commitment/, 3] Cito https://bo.citeo.com/sites/default/files/inline-files/20191128_CITEO_2019_GUIDE%20EMBALLAGE_FR_1.pdf, [4] https://www.thegoodgoods.fr/mode/resource-basket-vegan-recyclee-et-recyclable-a-linfini-tbs/, Article realized in partnership with The Good Goods, the first French-speaking platform dedicated to eco-responsible fashion, Read our interview to Victoire Satto, the co-founder of the Good Goods, Read the article about the international labels to know, And watch the replay of the Digital Talk Regenerative Fashion, Lets Tackle Climate Change Beyond Sustainability, With Victoire Satto Co-founder & EIC, Host of the podcast ON(WARD) FASHION, The Good Goods, Arizona Muse Activist, Sustainability Consultant, Model, Nina Marenzi Founder & Director, The Sustainable Angle & Future Fabrics Expo, Elisabetta Baronio CSR & Sustainability Manager, Timberland EMEA. Have you discussed that aspect with them? Recycled polyester reduces carbon dioxide emissions by up to 20%. Polyester fibers take hundreds of years to decompose. It still does, as man-made fabrics can release microscopic plastic fibers -- the infamous microplastics. And half a million tons of plastic microfibers are dumped into the ocean every year, the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles. 2) Social compliance standards More and more eco-conscious consumers look for sustainable synthetic fabrics as a more ethical and responsible choice for clothing, especially for activewear and sports apparel. Plastic trash landing in the oceans is highly toxic and endangers ecosystems and marine life. I also know that the recycled polyester fabric we buy is made from PET (polyethlyene terephthalate). Thanks Jocky, for this information. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. if you can substantiate this please drop me a line. In the United States, a mere 9 percent of all plastics were recycled in 2015, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. They began working with people around the world: Romanian farmers who dew- or field-ret hemp stalks; a Japanese mill owner committed to green processes, even new methods such as using ozone to bleach fabric; a 100-year-old Italian mill that produces no wastewater; a Chilean mill shifting to entirely green processes; an Italian dye house that produces biodegradable, heavy-metal free textiles. From a strictly environmental point of view, recycled polyester is more sustainable than virgin polyester, yet still less efficient than most natural materials. And not all recycling processes are environmentally friendly. Our recycled polyester garments are mostly made from used packaging, and their origins are unknown. sport Also i can confirm you that manufacturers even in Europe have to buy unused plastic bottles to make the recycled polyester yarn because they dont find enough sources.
Here is everything you need to know about recycled polyester fabrics used in the fashion world and their sustainability. Not to mention the 20% of water they dont reuse which is therefore polluting our ecosystem. Its still impossible to trace the origin of recycled polyester. Interesting talk. 3) Recycle standards. The innovative polyester fiber reduces greenhouse gas emissions, water, and energy consumption. recycling On the other hand, recycled polyester removes the need for crude oil, refinery, and chemical extraction. Using recycled polyester lessens our dependence on petroleum as a source of raw materials, says the website of outdoor brand Patagonia, best known for making fleece from used soda bottles, unusable manufacturing waste and worn-out garments. Plastic polymers are created through polymerization. Pictures: Everlane Facebook, Pixabay, Allbirds Facebook. It can save wildlife and our environment. Panaprium is proud to be 100% independent, free of any influence, and not sponsored. To start, whether recycled or not, polyester generates plastic microparticles during each wash, microparticles which are released in the wastewater and then into the oceans. I dont think there are yet any mills in the U.S. that qualify for GOTS certification, but from life cycle analyses done by various companies, the energy used for transportation is a very small percentage of embodied energy in most fabric products because the resources used to produce the fabrics have such high embodied energy costs. Recycling has its limitations - Many garments are not made from polyester alone, but rather from a blend of polyester and other materials. 2. rPET is just as good as virgin polyester, but takes less resources to make - Recycled polyester is almost the same as virgin polyester in terms of quality, but its production requires 59 percent less energy compared to virgin polyester, according to a 2017 study by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment.
It takes thousands of years to decompose in this wet and cold environment. fashion Why? Turning ocean plastic and other plastic waste into new recycled fabrics for fashion is a technological revolution. On the consumer side, it is possible to refer to certain labels such as GRS (Global Recycle Standard), ko Tex STeP and Bluesign, which guarantee that a given recycled polyester has been produced as cleanly as possible, limiting the presence of solvents and other chemicals in its manufacturing. It worked: last month, the organization issued a statement celebrating that signatories have not only met the goal two years before the deadline, they have actually exceeded it by upping their use of recycled polyester by 36 percent. Those can then go back into the regular polyester manufacturing system, explained Magruder to FashionUnited. Hi Rosie: We think its a great idea to use re-useable bags of any kind and the idea of substituting re-useable bags for dry cleaning is terrific! It doesnt matter if garments are from virgin or recycled polyester, they both contribute to microplastics pollution. Keeping plastics from going to landfill and the ocean - Recycled polyester gives a second life to a material thats not biodegradable and would otherwise end up in landfill or the ocean. The best outfits for Lollapalooza focus on extraordinary impressive and super comfortable casual wear that showcases beautiful, unique, stylish clothing 10 Best Sustainable Clothing Brands From Belgium. Hello, this is a very interesting thread, exactly the information i was looking for. - Our Lovely Earth. They escape through our plumbing and sewage systems. The volume of textile microfibers entering the world's oceans is increasing at an alarming rate. More than a million plastic bottles are sold around the world each minute. But, just to give an example, five soda bottles yield enough fiber for one extra large T-shirt. The manufacturing of polyester fibers involves the polymerization of synthesized polymers compounds made from oil-derived materials.
Common misconception about recycling: you might think that if you throw your used drink bottle into the recycling container that it will be recycled into another new drink container. Nope. The melted resin contains contaminants and would not meet food grade requirements, so it is instead destined to go into a secondary product, such as yarn for the fabric we started talking about at the beginning of this blog. A better name for the recycling container would be collection container. After forming O Ecotextiles in 2004, they began a world-wide search for manufacturing partners interested in a cradle-to-cradle process of creating no-impact, perfectly safe, incredibly luxurious fabrics. Id like to show you how this is a misleading statement. Its a bit complicated, but stick with me because the industry is depending on your confusion. If you know what theyre really foisting on us, you might want to demand a better, cleaner, altogether different product!
The best organic jeans are comfortable, affordable, sustainable, and made from natural and eco-friendly materials such as organic cotton to 20 Best Stylish Lollapalooza Outfit Ideas You'll Love. Recycled polyester is a leading example of how the global textile and apparel industry works to find solutions to its catastrophic social and environmental impacts.
Recycled fibers are usually used with digital printing sublimation techniques to craft stylish swimwear and activewear, pants, shirts, shorts, jeans, blouses, dresses, jackets, and more. If the demand for fabric made from recycled PET forces the price of bottles up, at some price point for used bottles it would seem a logical step for unscrupulous bottle manufacturers to sell their virgin bottles as used and thereby save themselves the cost of collecting, sorting and cleaning the used bottles. In addition, recycled polyester can contribute to reduce the extraction of crude oil and natural gas from the Earth to make more plastic. Plastic waste, including PET bottles, is quickly becoming a global environmental and social issue. Recycled polyester releases microplastics - Last but not least, some counter argue the affirmation that rPET keeps plastic from reaching the ocean.
Sign up for email updates to keep up with Panaprium stories and product launches. Currently, fabrics identified as being recyclable really are not because the technology to recycle the fibers is either too expensive (chemical) or doesnt exist (mechanical) and the infrastructure to collect the fabric is not in place. Few manufacturers, such as Designtex (with their line of EL fabrics designed to be used without backings) and Victor Innovatex (who has pioneered EcoIntelligent polyester made without antimony), have taken the time, effort and money needed to accelerate the adoption of sustainable practices in the industry so we can one day have synthetic fabrics that are not only recycled, but recyclable. Greenpeace says : There is also an academic debate concerning the calculation of CO2 emissions in the comparison between virgin polyester and rPET because the impact of the fibers first life is not included in the overall environmental assessment of recycled fibers.