Recycled polyester
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What is recycled fabric?
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How is polyester made?
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Cotton's vs polyester's carbon footprint, water usage, and social impact (labor force)
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NYT article on the costs of fake leather
The ability to recycle textiles into high value new products is limited. Current mechanical recycling processes damage the original fibre and shorten the fibre length.181 This limits the options and range of markets for recycled fibres and in most cases they can only be recycled once. Demand from existing markets is low and hence the value that can be achieved for recycled textiles are low... In 2016, our predecessor Committee highlighted how trillions of tiny pieces of plastic are accumulating in the world’s oceans, harming marine life and entering the food chain.186 Research has shown that marine habitats worldwide including shorelines, sea surface, deep sea and arctic sea ice are polluted with small plastic pieces less than five millimetres long. Synthetic fibres are common in most samples and have also been detected in commercially important fish and shellfish.187.... Synthetic textiles can either be made from plastics, such as polyester, polyamide and acrylic, or from plant materials that are chemically dissolved and then spun into fibres, such as rayon, viscose, lyocell, modal and cupro.... The vast majority of synthetic fibres come from virgin plastics... Textiles are estimated to be the largest source of synthetic fibres in the oceans with microplastics shedding into the water system every time garments are washed.
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmenvaud/1952/report-summary.html#content
Evidence suggests that when synthetic textiles are landfilled or incinerated they can also leach microfibres into the environment.
Fashion Revolution (SFI0056)
When synthetic fibres are produced, combined into yarn and woven into fabrics, it is possible that fibres are released into the air and environment.
Friends of the Earth (SFI0069)
As much as 20% to 35% of all primary source microplastics in the marine environment are from synthetic clothing, according to academic estimates.189
Kirsi Laitala, Ingun Grimstad Klepp and Beverley Henry, Does Use Matter? Comparison of Environmental Impacts of Clothing Based on Fiber Type (July 2018)
A single 6kg domestic wash has the potential to release as many as 700,000 fibres.
Professor Richard Thompson (SFI0007)
One problem preventing greater uptake of recycled polyester is that low oil prices make new virgin plastics cheaper than recycled PET.
Environmental Audit Committee, Plastic Bottles: Turning Back the Plastic Tide (Dec 2017)