Recycled fleece
Also known as: rPET fleece, Recycled polyester fleece
Fleece made from recycled PET (beverage bottles, textile scrap) with the same hand as virgin PES.
Description
Recycled fleece is based on polyester filament from recycled PET, obtained either from used PET bottles (bottle-to-bottle recycling) or from textile waste (textile-to-textile). The recycling process comprises collection, sorting, washing, shredding into flakes, melting and re-extruding into filament yarn. Around 25-30 half-litre PET bottles yield about 1 kg of rPET fleece.
The environmental benefit is substantial: up to 79% lower CO₂ emissions compared with virgin polyester (per Textile Exchange). Certificates such as Global Recycled Standard (GRS) or Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) verify recycled content shares. Fabric weights and mechanical values are identical to classic fleece (180-330 g/m²).
Known brands/products: Patagonia Synchilla (100% rPET since 1993), Polartec Power Air, Rewoolution rPET collections, Regatta Honestly Made. The microplastic issue remains — a Guppyfriend bag helps. Care as for normal fleece: 30-40 °C, no fabric softener.
Properties
| Material base | rPET from PET bottles / textile waste |
|---|---|
| CO₂ savings | Up to 79% vs virgin PES |
| Certifications | GRS, RCS, Oeko-Tex |
| Application | Fleece jackets, blankets, corporate fleece |
Related product categories
Sources & references
2- Wikipedia: PET bottle recycling Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PET_bottle_recycling
- Polartec Polartec / Milliken https://www.polartec.com/
