Plastic Bottles Don’t Make Good Clothes
If you see me saying clothes made from plastic bottles are sustainable, no you didn’t.
Over the last 5 years, clothing and accessories brands have greatly increased their requests for copy advertising their products as eco-friendly because they are made from recycled plastic bottles. But is this pulling the proverbial sustainable wool over the sheep's eyes? Surprise, surprise. There are hidden drawbacks to advertising these clothes as sustainable.
How are plastic bottles turned into clothing?
To make clothing from plastic bottles, the bottles are first collected, sorted, cleaned, and shredded into small flakes. These flakes are then melted and extruded into thin fibers, which are spun into yarn for various garments, such as activewear, jackets, or bags.
However, recycling plastic bottles into clothing does not eliminate the need for new plastic production. In fact, it’s created more demand for it. According to a report by Greenpeace, the global production of polyester increased by more than 40% between 2007 and 2016. *Cough,* fast fashion, *cough.* As a result, beverage companies have to produce more plastic bottles to meet this demand, rather than reuse or recycle the ones they already have.
The process also requires a lot of energy, water, harsh chemicals, and transportation. According to a study by the University of California Santa Barbara, producing one kilogram of recycled polyester emits about 5.5 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), which is higher than the emissions of cotton (about 4 kg CO2e/kg) or linen (about 2 kg CO2e/kg).
Just wait, it gets worse…
Wearing clothing made from plastic bottles may seem harmless, but these clothes shed microplastics when they are washed or worn. They can easily escape through wastewater treatment plants and end up in rivers, lakes, oceans, and even drinking water.
They can be ingested by fish, birds, turtles, whales, and other animals, causing physical damage, digestive problems, hormonal disruption, or even death. Leading to a study by the University of Newcastle, finding that an average person may consume up to 5 grams of microplastics per week, which is equivalent to a credit card. Yum!
…and worse.
Clothing made from plastic bottles is not biodegradable. Unlike natural fibers such as cotton or wool, synthetic fibers such as polyester or nylon do not decompose easily in landfills or compost bins. They can persist for hundreds of years, taking up valuable space and releasing harmful chemicals into the soil and groundwater. Even if they are recycled again, they will eventually lose their quality and become unusable.
Final thought.
I understand brands don’t want to miss out on “the sustainable trend.” But that’s just it - it’s not a trend. It’s a real factor in global warming. What even sounds appealing about working out in plastic yarn? Polyester doesn’t breathe, in fact it holds heat. So next time you read a product description claiming something is sustainable, know somewhere there’s a copywriter who may disagree.
Sources
https://www.packaging-360.com/inspiration-en/clothing-made-of-pet-bottles/