Recycled polyester (often called RPET) is obtained by melting down existing plastic and re-spinning it into new polyester fibre. Pre-consumer recycled content is material that has never reached the end-user, having been diverted from the waste stream during a manufacturing process, which could include waste from the spinning of yarn or the cutting of garments. Post-consumer waste includes plastic PET bottles, industrial fishing nets as well as some used clothing, this diverts plastic from landfill. Methods of recycled polyester may be mechanical (melting plastic and then extruding into yarn) or chemical (going back to the monomer or polymer phase before extruding yarn). The benefits of recycled polyester include giving a second chance to materials by deferring them from landfill, and that the carbon footprint per tonne of fibre compared to virgin polyester is an estimated 32% lower.

This can come in two forms:

Pre consumer waste: Cotton waste from the manufacturing cutting room is recycled back into cotton which can be used in apparel production. The offcuts are sorted into different colours and shredded down, then finely spun into yarn to make clothing. This can be done by using organic or non-organic offcuts. Either way, turning a ‘waste’ material back into something usable is a great sustainable practice.

Post consumer waste: A cotton garment that has served its intended use and has been discarded for disposal, having completed its life as a consumer item. Cotton waste is processed with stripping machines that break the yarns and fabric into smaller pieces. The amount of energy, water and chemical products is much less than if virgin cotton had been used.