Materials
Recycled materials: what's behind REPREVE®, GRS and RCS
Recycled fibres turn material that has already been used into new yarn. The best known is recycled polyester made from PET bottles. Here you'll find out how it works, what's behind the name REPREVE® and how the GRS and RCS standards verify the recycled content.
At a glance
- Recycled polyester is usually made from used PET bottles.
- REPREVE® is a branded recycled polyester fibre from the US manufacturer Unifi.
- GRS and RCS are Textile Exchange standards that verify the recycled content along the supply chain.
How bottles become yarn
Polyester and PET bottles are made from the same plastic. In mechanical recycling, the collected bottles are sorted, cleaned and shredded into small flakes. These are melted down, processed into pellets and then spun into fine fibres. The yarn is then made into fabrics such as jersey or linings.
In the finished fabric, recycled polyester hardly differs from newly made polyester. It keeps its shape, dries quickly and creases little. Blended with viscose or cotton, it becomes softer and more comfortable on the skin.
What REPREVE® means
REPREVE® is the brand name for recycled fibres from the manufacturer Unifi. The name stands for polyester made from recycled material such as PET bottles. We use REPREVE®, for example, in jersey pieces together with LENZING™ ECOVERO™ viscose:
- The T-shirt in REPREVE™ and LENZING™ ECOVERO™ is made from 65 % recycled polyester (REPREVE®), 34 % viscose (LENZING™ ECOVERO™) and 1 % elastane.
- The wide-leg trousers in organic cotton and recycled polyester also combine recycled polyester (38 %) with LENZING™ ECOVERO™ viscose (14 %), plus 45 % organic cotton and 3 % elastane, and have a soft, fluid drape.
Recycled polyester is also found in other items, such as the lambswool-blend coat (40 % recycled polyester, lining in 100 % recycled polyester) or the SAYLORR sweatshirt in organic cotton and recycled polyester with 40 % recycled polyester.
GRS and RCS: how the recycled content is verified
Whether a fabric really contains recycled material can't be seen in the finished product. That's why there are two standards from the organisation Textile Exchange. Both trace the recycled material from the source material to the product and are audited by independent bodies.
GRS (Global Recycled Standard)
The GRS confirms the recycled content and also sets requirements for the use of chemicals, environmental management and minimum social standards at the facilities. A product must contain at least 20 % recycled material to be certified. The GRS logo on the product is permitted from 50 %.
RCS (Recycled Claim Standard)
The RCS focuses on verifying the recycled content, without additional social or chemical criteria. With RCS 100 the share is at least 95 %, with RCS Blended at least 5 %.
| GRS | RCS | |
|---|---|---|
| Verifies recycled content | yes | yes |
| Chemicals and environmental management | yes | no |
| Minimum social standards | yes | no |
| Minimum recycled content | 20 % (logo from 50 %) | 5 % (Blended), 95 % (RCS 100) |
The standard that applies to an item is shown on the product page in the "Production" tab. For an overview of all labels, see our Certificates page and the article GOTS, OCS, GRS, RWS: the certificates on our labels explained.
How to care for recycled fabrics
- Wash at a low temperature and according to the care label. Polyester rarely needs more than 30 °C.
- Fine fibres can come loose when synthetic fabrics are washed. A wash bag that catches fibres and a full drum help to reduce this.
- Dry in the air. Polyester dries quickly and hardly needs ironing.
You'll find more tips in our care instructions.
Wear for longer, pass on, repair
Recycled fibres are one building block. At least as important is how long a garment is used. Repairing small damage, passing pieces on or buying second-hand keeps clothing in use for longer. You'll find more ideas in 10 tips for a more conscious wardrobe.
FAQ
Does recycled polyester feel different from new polyester?
Hardly. The fibre is chemically the same. How a fabric feels depends mainly on the yarn, the type of fabric and the blend.
Is recycled polyester a natural fibre?
No, it remains a synthetic fibre. The difference lies in the source material: instead of new raw material, plastic that has already been used is processed.
What is the difference between recycling and upcycling?
In recycling, material is broken down and processed into new raw material, for example bottles into yarn. In upcycling, the material is kept and reworked into a new product, for example an old shirt into a bag.
