How Does RPET Become New Favorite?
We used to enjoy the traditional materials to make bike bags. The advantages are simple that polyester is durable, moisture-resistant, elastic, and cheap. As polyester is made from petroleum which is not a sustainable energy. Further, it will waste massive energy and lead to pollution of wastewater with microplastics, chemicals and other materials. By the eco-friendly requirement reason, more and more foreign customers are searching new materials to replace polyester.
What is RPET?
Recycled polyester (RPET) is a fabric made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is a type of plastic. PET is a synthesis of ethylene glycol and dimethyl terephthalate, both of which are derived from petroleum.
How is RPET Made?
The process of manufacturing RPET begins with collecting the source of PET. In this case, PET is a plastic water bottle.
Step 1: Collect PET bottles and disinfect them.
Step 2: Dry the bottle, and then crush it into small pieces, the size of a chip.
Step 3: Heat the PET sheet and push it through the spinneret to form long strand yarn.
Step 4: PET yarn is wound on the spool and passed through the crimping machine. The crimping step is the key to give the yarn a fluffy texture.
Step 5: Then pack the PET yarn, dye it to the desired color, and weave it into a fabric.
RPET VS Virgin Polyester
Material Resources and Sustainability
Virgin polyester is made directly from PET. RPET is made by recycled plastic bottles or other recycle thing. The production process can reduce around 79% greenhouse gas emissions. And it requires less energy to finish production. In fact, the process of manufacturing RPET is 33% to 53% less than manufacturing virgin polyester.
Further, RPET can be recycled into new items. This process can be repeated, and RPET can also be reused. For example, RPET factories can use old clothes to make bottles or bags.
Cost
For the current stage, RPET costs more expensive, around 15-30% higher. The discerption is not very big when we produce final products.
Conclusion
RPET has all the advantages of polyester. It is an excellent alternative material. Eco-friendly standards are constantly improved from 1990s. From 1990s, more and more customers try to use RPET to make bags, clothes and other products. We’re using a material that is just as durable and high quality as the original, with a significantly smaller environmental impact and a sustainable life cycle. One day, we will live in a world of harmonious development.
