12/19/2022
We will launch our first ever recycled polyester boardshorts in the upcoming SS23 collection. Before that, we'd like to talk about:
- what is recycled material in apparel industry?
- what is the difference between pre- and post- consumer recycled material?
- how to make sure it's real?
Nowadays, you see more of the apparel products using "recycled polyester" or "recycled nylon." These products are more eco-friendly as the materials are made from recycled finished products and/or wasted materials, which are degraded then re-produced into the products you see.
If you’re interested to know something more detailed, recycled materials actually get divided into post-consumer and pre-consumer materials. Take apparel industry as the example.
Post-consumer materials are made from the used finished products, such as old garments for recycled polyester and used fish nets for recycled nylon. These went through a complex process and eventually get degraded and re-produced into recycled fabric again.
Pre-consumer materials, on the other hand, are also recycled but not from used and finished products. These materials are recycled from wasted raw materials, which were eliminated due to quality issues. Instead of getting rid of it, these materials are also degraded and re-produced into fine recycled products.
For people who want to make sure they pay for the actual recycled products, there’s a globally recognized third-party organization called GRS (Global Recycled Standard). They certify materials, mills, and processes that produce recycled-material products so check for GRS certification and/or transaction certification if you wonder whether it’s real recycled material.
Here you learn another interesting fact about apparel industry!
