What is recycled polyester fabric?

Recycled polyester fabric is a textile with the same technical characteristics as any other virgin polyester fabric. The main difference is that it is made from recycled polyester fibers, thus contributing to a lower environmental impact in its manufacture. The benefits of its manufacturing process and use are:

1- Reuse of existing materials. PET plastic bottles from containers or polyester fabrics are collected as raw material, giving them a second life and preventing them from piling up in landfills.

2- 75% less CO2 emissions in its manufacture than virgin polyester. PET polyester or polyester fabric is selected and crushed to obtain the fibers, and then the yarn can be manufactured and woven.

3- Recycled polyester does not need new petroleum for its manufacture, reducing the demand and extraction of this consumable and decreasing our environmental footprint.

Another reason why you can choose to work with this type of fabric is the good finish it offers after digital printing. At Waixo, we always try to include recycled fabric references that have already been tested for perfect digital printing, being able to offer vibrant colors if desired, high-quality finishes, and high durability against wear and tear over time. It is possible to acquire these references in their natural color, white/ecru, print them with your own design, or even print them in solid colors. All without minimum meterage at Waixo.

 

 

And now you might ask, is printing on fabric sustainable? If you think so, you've hit the nail on the head. Digital textile printing is the most ecological printing technology on the market, and even more so when compared to traditional printing and textile dyeing, where hundreds of liters of contaminated water are generated per hour. For printing on recycled fabrics, textile sublimation is specifically used, a technology in which running water is not part of the process. The inks used are water-based, and the main waste generated (paper) is recycled; in fact, there are companies that pay for it. This last topic has its complexities and deserves a separate post.

 

PET recycled polyester fabric in the final printing process.