recycledpolyester

Recycled polyester, commonly referred to as rPET, is a polymer made from recycled polyester materials, chiefly PET bottles and textile waste. Recovered PET is cleaned, pelletized, and can be spun into fibers or formed into film and new resin. Using rPET reduces demand for virgin polyester and helps divert plastic waste from landfills.

Production methods include mechanical recycling—grinding, washing, drying, and melting to extrude new chips or fibers—and chemical recycling, which depolymerizes PET into monomers for purified repolymerization. Mechanical recycling is cheaper but may yield shorter fibers; chemical recycling can produce high-quality material but is more energy-intensive and costly.

rPET is used in apparel, home textiles, carpets, industrial fabrics, and packaging films, often as spun fibers or in blends with other materials. The properties of rPET depend on processing, impurities, and end-use; dyeing, finishing, and fiber length influence performance and durability.

Environmental and sustainability notes: rPET can lower lifecycle energy use and fossil resource demand when it displaces virgin polyester. However, recycling rates, contamination, and the potential for microplastic release during washing complicate its environmental profile. End-of-life handling and recycling infrastructure affect outcomes.

Standards and labeling: products may bear recycled content claims and certificates such as the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) or Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) to verify recycled content and chain of custody. Market labeling often uses terms like “contains recycled PET” or “rPET.”