Recycled Polyester Vs. Recycled Cotton Vs Hemp: What’s Most Sustainable? So, you’re finally jumping on the “Save the earth, reuse and recycle” brigade? Well then, welcome! We know what you might be thinking. What is a more sustainable option? Using recycled polyester? Recycled cotton or hemp? Let us help you solve this dilemma through this blog. Here will take you behind the scenes of how recycled polyester, cotton and hemp are sourced and produced into the final product. And, of course, we will help you decide the safest and most environmental option among the three. Ready? Let’s dive in. What is Hemp Fabric? Source The first question everyone gets is What is Hemp? And is Most sustainable hemp fabric environmentally friendly ? Hemp is a plant fiber similar to cotton but grows incredibly fast. It can be harvested as early as 3 months. Best of all, Hemp doesn’t rely on harmful chemicals and pesticides to grow and, in return, also adds nutrients to the soil. If this is not the magic plant that the fashion industry desperately needs, then we don’t know what it is. Because seriously? A crop that’s ready to harvest within 3 months without using chemicals, We’re sold! Let’s learn more about this magic wonder crop called Hemp. Benefits of Hemp It’s not a drama queen like other natural fibers. Better yet, cotton plus hemp is our favourite combo; you get the strength of hemp while keeping the soft feel of cotton. But hemp doesn’t have this drama. It’s one of the strongest natural fibers and is three times stronger than cotton. So, you can buy hemp clothing once and use it for more than a decade without tears. Not us! Moreover, if you are that lazy lad who doesn’t like to do laundry every day, don’t worry, Hemp antibacterial properties make sure your clothes don’t leave a Odor after a single use. Go ahead, wear it one more day; no one will notice. Disadvantages of Hemp Fabric What Is Recycled Cotton? Recycled cotton It is discarded cotton fabrics that are converted into cotton fibers. These fibers can then be reused in textile and fashion production. But…where does the cotton used for recycling come from? Recycled cotton has two primary sources: However, the largest source of recycled cotton comes from post-production. This is because consumer products are hard to classify and reprocess due to the variety of colors involved, different materials used, and the rest of the raw materials and accessories included in the items. Pros and Cons of Recycled Cotton Cons of Recycled Cotton What Is a Recycled Polyester? Recycled Polyester The world is loved by polyester fabric, considering its explosion in the past decade. According to Statista, polyester’s global production in 2020 reached a whopping 57.1 million metric tons! Statista Production of Polyester Fibers Most people doesn’t think twice before buying polyester clothing. And it’s due to many reasons such as wrinkle resistance, cheaper and not to mention flexible! But, then, it never dawned on them that polyester is essentially a PLASTIC. Many of us are wearing recycled polyester thinking it’s saving the environment, but our bodies absorb harmful chemicals as the recycled polyester industry is wildly regulated! So, next time you think of buying RPET fabrics, don’t forget to check for chemical content certification labels such as OEKO-TEX®, GOTS, or BLUESIGN®. Pros of Recycled Polyester Cons of Recycled Polyester Fun Facts About Polyester: The first PET bottle was recycled in 1977 Are there chemicals in recycled clothes? Research Found 30+ Harmful Toxins And Chemicals! Source When we are using recycled polyester and cotton to save our planet, you might expect little to no chemicals. Unfortunately, it’s the dark side of the fashion industry that many don’t accept. The textile industry uses tons of chemicals at every stage of production, including bleaching, dyeing, and making fibers. However, even after these clothes reach the stores, these fabrics still contain many harmful chemicals that our skin absorbs. Since our skin is the human body’s largest organ, these chemicals can bring unresolvable health issues without us knowing about them. Greenpeace International commissioned research for their Detox Campaign to identify the most common chemicals used in the fashion industry. The research also included the study of global brands like Levi’s, Zara, Armani etc. Here’s what we can take away from it: All these chemicals should have been banned, considering their danger, but they aren’t. And this makes us question, “Do these brands even care about consumer safety? Now you might ask, Can chemicals be washed out of clothes?. The short answer is no. It can wash out some toxins, but not all the chemicals. Facts Chemicals constitutes 27% of the weight of garments. For every 100,000 people, up to 110 kg of micro fibers is released into local waterways daily – This is equal to pollution caused by 15,000 plastic bags. Approximately 104 million barrels of oil are used for PET production each year – that’s 70 million barrels just to produce the virgin polyester used in fabrics. Recycled Polyester Vs Recycled Cotton Vs Hemp: Head-to-Head Comparison Hemp Recycled Cotton Recycled Polyester Water consumption 2401 kilograms of water per kg of textile 10 gallons per t-shirt 200 liters of water Is it biodegradable? Yes, 100% biodegradable Yes, if not used with polyester No Skin-friendly quotient 100% skin-friendly If manufactured well, recycled cotton is still a skin-friendly option. Recycled polyester is not skin friendly since it absorbs sweat and sticks to the body. Source Hemp plant Cotton fibres and clothes Crude oil and plastic bottles. Color Durability Strong Medium Strong Best for Everyday wear Casual clothing Sportswear Chemicals Used Minimal to no chemicals used Medium High level chemicals used If Hemp is Eco Friendly and Good for Human Beings, Why Are We Using Cotton and Polyester? One answer – Price. You see, polyester and even cotton, in some cases, are a lot cheaper to produce than hemp. Fashion brands, especially the fast fashion ones, want to make more profits, and […]
