Recycled Polyester: The eco-responsible alternative to virgin polyester and organic cotton

We spent a long time searching for the best material to integrate into our mix to strengthen our recycled cotton threads. (And yes, this guy isn't strong enough to manage on his own!). Recycled polyester, with its strength, durability, and local production potential, emerged as the best choice for us.

There are several alternatives that could be combined with recycled cotton , but what was important to us was to offer you clothing made from 100% recycled materials . Because in addition to sounding good, favoring recycled materials over virgin materials allows us to avoid extracting resources from the planet and at the same time to give value to waste that would otherwise be destroyed or worse, lost in nature.

If you can't be bothered to read it all:

📌 Used in fast fashion, classic polyester pollutes and releases microplastics, while being made from non-renewable fossil resources.

♻️ Recycled polyester is made from plastic waste like used bottles and textiles, reducing waste and oil use.

🔃 It can be recycled multiple times, but it gradually degrades with each cycle.

🌱 Eco-friendly by reducing plastic waste and oil use, but still releases microplastics.

🌍 Reduces plastic waste and CO2 emissions, but production remains energy-intensive.

✅ Durable, less polluting, but still generates microplastics.

🤔 Organic cotton is natural and biodegradable, but recycled polyester is more sustainable and limits plastic waste.

What are the disadvantages of polyester?

Conventional polyester is widely used in the fast fashion industry due to its low cost and ease of production . However, its popularity comes with significant environmental impacts:

• Produced from petroleum : Polyester is derived from fossil resources, making it a non-renewable material.
• Plastic pollution : As it degrades, it releases microplastics into the environment, which often end up in our oceans.
• Non-biodegradable : Polyester can take hundreds of years to decompose.
• Energy-intensive production : Its manufacture consumes a lot of energy and generates CO2 emissions.

What is recycled polyester?

Recycled polyester (or rPET) is made from plastic waste, such as plastic bottles . In short: This waste is collected, cleaned, ground into small particles, and melted before being transformed into polyester yarn that can be used to make clothing. Reusing these materials avoids producing virgin polyester from fossil resources and reduces the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills, burned, or in the ocean by giving it a new life.
“Where do we sign?” you’re going to ask me.

How many times can polyester be recycled?

Polyester can be recycled multiple times, but each cycle slightly reduces its quality. After several cycles (you have to go there already), the fibers lose their strength . That said, recycling significantly extends the life of the material and reduces waste. Not to mention that in 2020, only 14.7% of the polyester produced was recycled, so there is room, a lot of room.

Is recycled polyester eco-friendly?

Recycled polyester is clearly a more sustainable alternative to virgin polyester . By reusing existing plastic waste, we avoid the extraction of new fossil resources, and the manufacturing process requires less energy . However, it's not all rosy either. Polyester, recycled or not, still releases microplastics when washed, and toxic fumes when incinerated if it's not recycled again. So, like most materials, it's not perfect.
But we've thought of everything, you know us 🙂 that's why we also offer a Guppyfriend wash bag on our site that helps capture microfibers in the water during washing and therefore almost completely reduce their release. A simple gesture that helps counter the impact of recycled polyester on our oceans.

What is the impact of recycled polyester?

Using recycled polyester helps reduce plastic pollution and CO2 emissions . Compared to producing virgin polyester, it uses less energy and resources . That said, like any synthetic textile, it remains energy-intensive and its environmental impact also depends on how it is manufactured and used .

What are the advantages and disadvantages of recycled polyester fabric?

Benefits	Disadvantages
Durable and resistant : It retains the same properties as virgin polyester, but with a lower environmental impact. Waste reduction : By reusing plastic, we prevent it from ending up in landfills or the ocean. Less CO2 emissions : Its manufacture consumes less energy and produces fewer emissions than virgin polyester.	Microplastics : It still releases microplastics into the water when washing. Energy to recycle it : Although it requires less energy than virgin polyester, its recycling remains energy-intensive. End-of-life pollution : It pollutes the environment and emits toxic gases during incineration.

What is GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certification?

At Lucid, our recycled polyester is GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certified, the most recognized international label for ensuring transparency and avoiding greenwashing around recycled textiles . This label not only verifies that the materials are recycled (with a minimum of 50% recycled content in the finished product), it also covers the entire production chain: environmental impact, waste management, water and energy consumption, but also respect for social conditions for workers. Each step, from the manufacture of the raw material to sale, is controlled. For us, this is a serious guarantee of quality, ethics and commitment to a true circular economy .
You can find more information about the different textile labels here .

What is better: organic cotton or recycled polyester?

Often the 2 most used textile fibers to accompany recycled cotton , we had to make a choice between these 2 challengers too. Organic cotton is natural, biodegradable and requires fewer chemicals than conventional cotton . However, its production requires a lot of water , which does not really solve the major problem of cotton. Recycled polyester , on the other hand, is sustainable and contributes to the reduction of plastic waste , but it is not biodegradable and releases microparticles of plastic during washing .

At Lucid , we chose to use a combination of recycled cotton and recycled polyester because we've always loved the idea of ​​being able to offer clothing with the lowest possible impact, and made entirely from recycled end-of-life waste rather than virgin resources that are costly to produce for the planet. This combination remains imperfect, but it allows us to offer durable and eco-responsible clothing, while minimizing our environmental impact and sourcing our materials locally.
All our t-shirts , sweatshirts and hoodies are 100% recycled, made from a mix of recycled cotton and recycled polyester. Don't hesitate to take a look at our clothing .

Sources:

• The Beautiful Footprint. (2025). Material sheet: Recycled polyester.
• WeDressFair. (2025). What is recycled polyester?
• FashionUnited. (2018). Is recycled polyester really eco-friendly?
• Textile Exchange. (nd). Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) + Global Recycled Standard (GRS).
• Ecoconso. (2024). The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) label for recycled textiles . ecoconso.
• Textile Exchange. (2021). Global Recycled Standard (GRS) v4.2 Implementation Manual . Textile Exchange.