Recycled Polyester Clothing And It’s Impact
- Reinvntd
- May 2
- 4 min read
Due to the positive connotation the word recycled has, green washing becomes a bit easier as the world ‘recycled’ alludes to a step in the right direction.
Despite the European Parliament inputting new regulations to clamp down on greenwashing, misleading claims remain widespread. By skirting the spirit of these regulations it leaves us the consumers feeling confused and frustrated, encouraging purchases of “conscious” collections which may still carry significant environmental and health implications.
The Truth About Recycled Polyester
Recycled polyester is one of the most popular fabrics used in the fashion industry to date. By using the title ‘recycled’ it almost instantly feels as though it is better for the environment in comparison to other fabrics. In reality it is one of the worst materials in modern history due to the impact it has before and after use.
What’s It Made From?
Most recycled polyester is made from recycled plastic bottles and is combined with other materials to make clothing. This means that after usage it can no longer be widely recycled and one of the main ways of disposal is by burning it which produces high carbon emissions.
During wear, the material also deposits high micro plastics onto our body and through every hot wash it sheds even more.
The fashion industry is increasingly turning to recycled polyester as a key material, influenced by EU regulations and the heavy reliance of virgin polyester on crude oil. This shift predicts that recycled polyester may be the way forward in the fashion industry.
The Pros And Cons
There are some positives of using recycled polyester and the image isn’t all negative. By repurposing plastic bottles, it delays them ending up in land fill and if the consumer keeps the garment and continues to wear it or repurposes it over time, this can extend that delay for years.
Recycled polyester can have around 30% lower carbon emissions than virgin polyester and uses significantly less energy to produce. However, it has limitations. It is difficult to recycle again after use, particularly when garments are made from blended fabrics. In addition, polyester sheds microplastics during washing, which can harm marine ecosystems and potentially impact human health.
Over the last decade health implications from wearing this material have been investigated. In a study done by Shafik A on the ‘Effect of different types of textile fabric on spermatogenesis’ there were positive correlations shown between wearing polyester underwear and disruptions to sperm production. The results of this experiment on different animals and humans suggested that polyester underwear raises body temperatures which can disrupt homeostasis and the production of sperm, leading to what may manifest into infertility.
Microplastics that shed from recycled polyester and polyester have been increasingly studied for their impact on human health. A 2024 study published in Journal of Clinical Medicine, titled “Detection of Microplastics in Human Breast Milk and Its Association with Changes in Human Milk Bacterial Microbiota”, found evidence of microplastics present in human breast milk samples. This research highlights how microplastics from a range of sources can enter the human body, raising concerns about their potential effects on health.
Alternatives and what we can do
So what can we do? There many alternative materials to wear that use less water, pesticides and have less microplastics. These materials are: bast, algae and tercel fibres.
Algae-based fibres even have the ability to naturally capture carbon from the atmosphere. But what if these materials aren’t accessible to you? In that case, you can still make a difference by changing how you care for your recycled polyester garments to help reduce microplastic pollution.
To do this, wash the garment less and in fuller loads in a machine on a short cycle with lower temperatures as it reduces the shedding of microplastics.
One of the most impactful things we can do is make our voice heard by holding companies accountable for the environmental impact of producing cheap, short-lived clothing and pushing them to invest in better alternatives. We as the consumer have the power to change the conversation and encourage these companies to invest in better alternatives.
Synthetic fibres and pesticide-intensive materials used in garment production have significant environmental impacts, alongside growing concerns about their effects on human health. We are still learning about the long-term implications of microplastics released from these garments, but early evidence points to widespread environmental contamination.
By becoming more aware of these risks and taking steps to reduce our impact, we can begin to challenge this side of the fashion industry. Brands must take responsibility for the materials they use, both now and for future generations.
If you’d like to take action, you can support the Greenpeace petition calling for greater accountability in material choices.
Resoures
Guest Writer Bio
This article was written by Sumayyah Shariff, a volunteer contributor as part of a monthly guest blog series exploring sustainable fashion, identity and creativity.
Sumayyah is a creative designer with a passion for ethical and conscious ways of life. Exploring how identity, media, and consumer habits shape the way we live. Her work focuses on making sustainability more accessible, relatable, and actionable for the next generation.
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