Recycled Plastic is Fantastic!
The promise of plastics seems endless, and the possibilities for transforming recycled plastics
also seem endless. For example, did you know that you can now purchase clothing that has been
made from recycled plastic bottles?
The process begins when the PET plastic bottles are converted into polyester. The bottles are
cut into small pieces called flakes. The flakes are washed and then melted into a liquid. The
liquid is shaped into a long, thin fiber and spun into yarn. The 100% recycled yarn is then used to
make a fleece that can be sewn into jackets and other winter sports gear as well as everyday
clothes like T-shirts.
PET (PETE) is plastic made out of polyethylene terephthalate. It is often referred to as polyester.
PET is commonly used in synthetic fibers, beverage bottles, and food containers. In many
countries, PET is labeled as a #1 type of plastic in the universal recycling symbol. PET is the
easiest plastic to recycle. RPET (recycled polyethylene terephthalate) is used to make many
products.
Recycled plastic bottles can also be used to make the batting for sleeping bags, comforters,
pillows, quilts, and even the fiberfill for a ski jacket. When the plastic is melted, it forms soft
layers that feel much like cotton or soft rubber. Although cotton starts out feeling fluffy and very
soft, over time, cotton batting becomes lumpy and matted down. The reborn plastic from the
plastic bottles weighs much less and is much more resilient than traditional all-cotton futons. As
a result, the polyester batting does not mat, it does not become hard and lumpy, and it lasts
longer because it is tougher than cotton.
But the list of recycled products isn’t limited to clothing. Recycled PET is also used to make
carpet, tote bags, shoes, films, engineering moldings, caps, purses, auto parts, floor tiles, and
more! By recycling plastic bottles, we conserve on the consumption of resources and space used
in landfills. So when you shop, read the labels and make an effort to buy products that are made
from recycled plastic.