Polyester

Polyester is a synthetic fiber that is made from crude oil and then refined in several stages. Polyester is also strong, durable, wrinkle-free and quick-drying and is available with a lot of different properties where the fabric is completely adapted according to the requirement. Like Drirelease™, where synthetic and natural fibers are blended to create a material that dries quickly, while keeping the material breathable. This can be used in a wide range of areas, and polyester therefore accounts for over half of the global fiber market.

Just like polyamide, polyester production also has its challenges, which come largely from the fiber being made from petroleum (crude oil), a non-renewable resource. Unfortunately, recycled polyester is also not completely problem-free as today it is mainly made from PET bottles that should not be removed from their (re)cycle so that the material can be recycled and used again “forever”. By making textile fibers from PET bottles, we break the cycle of bottle-to-bottle recycling, which is not optimal from a circularity perspective.

Preferred polyester

But, of course, there are alternatives to conventional polyester that are better for the environment. We have chosen to continue working with recycled polyester, but will focus on the origin of the fiber to ensure we use textile-to-textile recycled polyester to the extent possible, and eventually phase out recycled polyester from PET bottles altogether.

We will also invest more in biobased polyester, such as Sorona®, which is partly made from renewable resources, such as corn, and also has a more resource-efficient manufacturing process. Our goal is for 60% of all polyester used in our garments to come from textile-to-textile recycled polyester or biobased polyester by 2030.