When polyester is produced, the polyester’s main characteristic is not utilized: its plasticity and ability to be recycled in a circular process. By turning this process we can make huge environmental savings while producing garments with even better quality.
According to the World Bank, one single step in the textile production – the dyeing process
accounts for 20 percent of the world’s pollution of freshwater. In order to understand why this is and at the same time get to the solution, we need to look back in history when the first man-made fibers were invented.
The history of man-made fibers
The chemist and inventor W.H. Carothers discovered that alcohol and carboxylic acids can be mixed and a create fiber. It eventually built the foundation for the polyester’s discovery. But Carothers never completed his research he continuing with another invention, nylon that was the world’s first synthetic fiber. It was originally launched as trademark name 1938 by DuPont.
Later, the two British scientists Whinfield and Dickson took over and completed what Carothers started and Polyethylene Terephthalate was patented in 1941. Polyethylene terephthalate, usually shortened PET or PETE, is the most common thermoplastic polymer resin in the polyester family and is used in, for example, fibers for clothing.
A “fantastic” material is launched
Polyester was born, it was the first fabric which was widely launched to the public, which was developed through research.
Polyester does not need to be ironed, does not wrinkle, and does not wash off, it was launched in the United States with the argument that it could be worn for 68 consecutive days and still looking good. Another argument was the price. Polyester was cheap and easy to manufacture and several companies started to manufacture cheap polyester clothes.
In the 1970s, polyester popularity, due to a cheap image, dropped. The reason was probably an excessive promotion of its properties. And an over usage in apparel where polyester did not really was the best-suited material
The world’s most popular textile
But the material was developed and through different types of treatment, it can emulate silk, cotton, linen and even wool. It has also been successful (although doubtful from a sustainability standpoint since it’s very hard to recycle), mixed with natural fiber and the mix creates brand new unique properties.
Today, polyester is the most common fiber to make apparel, much because of it’s wide range of applications, it’s durability and the possibility of recycling. Together, this creates unrivaled properties that have made polyester grow every year since 1990.
More and more industry people understand the sustainability benefits of polyester – if done the right way
More and more companies have now begun to realize that the polyester’s main advantages versus natural fibers: the ability to be recycled in a circular process and that it can be dyed in a dry process by adding color pigments directly in the melting process.
The dirty and environmentally hazardous dying is eliminated and, in addition, it creates exceptional color resistance to sunlight, wash, and dirt. So the finished product is at the same performing better as it is less harmful to our environment.
Actually, the environmental savings are outstanding, 75 percent less water is used, 90 percent fewer chemicals are consumed, and both energy and carbon savings are between 30-40 percent.
Now you start to understand that the solution is spelled We aRe SpinDye®. Several strong players in the fashion, apparel and outdoor world have already understood now it’s time for you to take the step to clean the water by putting water out of business!