At the intersection of performance and sustainability lies recycled polyester (rPET) — a material made by reprocessing post-consumer and post-industrial plastics, such as PET bottles and packaging, into high-quality textile substrates. When combined with a structured end-of-life recovery and recycling program, the environmental impact of these fabrics is significantly reduced across their entire life cycle.

We’ve made recycled polyester a core part of our fabric offering — not just because of what it’s made from but because of where it ends up. Through our Back-2-Base™ return system, all printed graphics and production waste are collected and diverted from landfills to be processed into second-life products, closing the loop on textile use.

Diverts Plastic Waste from Landfills and Ocean Ecosystems

Recycled polyester is created from discarded PET plastics — such as drink bottles — that would otherwise become waste:

  • Every square metre of rPET fabric helps recover several bottles’ worth of plastic.

  • This process reduces the flow of plastic pollution into oceans, waterways, and landfills.

  • It supports a global circular economy by turning waste into a resource, extending the life of existing materials rather than extracting new ones.

Environmental Impact: Reduces ocean plastic, cuts landfill waste, and supports global PET recovery streams.

Uses Significantly Less Energy and Water to Produce

Compared to virgin polyester, the production of recycled polyester:

  • Uses up to 50% less energy.

  • Generates fewer carbon emissions.

  • Requires no petroleum extraction for new polymer creation.

  • Has a lower water footprint, as the rPET process bypasses water-intensive stages found in virgin fibre production.

These reductions translate to a dramatically lower environmental footprint per square metre of fabric.

Environmental Benefit: Reduced greenhouse gas emissions, lower energy consumption, and water conservation.

Fully Compatible with Closed-Loop Recycling Programs

Unlike natural fibres that degrade or contaminate when mixed, polyester can be recycled multiple times. When you combine rPET fabric use with an end-of-life return program like Back-2-Base™, you establish a true closed-loop lifecycle:

  • All printed and unprinted fabrics — including offcuts, test runs, and end-of-life graphics — are collected and processed locally.

  • Materials are shredded and transformed into second-life products, such as acoustic panels, insulation boards, and display cores.

  • This approach extends the material value chain while diverting textile waste from landfills.

Environmental Benefit: Eliminates single-use textiles and enables responsible disposal at scale.

Supports Low-Impact Printing and Finishing Processes

Recycled polyester fabrics are fully compatible with eco-conscious printing technologies, including:

  • Water-based dye-sublimation inks with no VOC emissions.

  • Heat-transfer printing methods with zero wastewater discharge.

  • Flame-retardant and Oeko-Tex® certified fabric options that support green building and event standards.

This means you can deliver high-quality, vibrant graphics while adhering to environmental best practices from production to disposal.

Environmental Benefit: Clean, safe, and efficient printing with no environmental compromise.

Strengthens Circular Economy Infrastructure

By actively incorporating recycled polyester into your product offering — and backing it with an end-of-life recovery process — your business:

  • Drives demand for recycled raw materials.

  • Reduces reliance on virgin plastic, a major contributor to carbon emissions and microplastic pollution.

  • Encourages manufacturers, designers, and customers to consider full material lifecycle, not just first use.

  • Builds resilience in local recycling systems by supporting consistent, high-volume textile return flows.

Environmental Benefit: System-wide change toward circular production, supporting long-term ecological and economic sustainability.

Why Recycled Polyester + Recycling Program Matter

  • Closes the Loop: Materials are not just reused — they are reclaimed, reprocessed, and reintegrated.

  • Sustainable Without Sacrifice: Performance, printability, and durability are equal to virgin materials.

  • Zero Waste Goal: Every step — from sourcing to disposal — is designed to reduce landfill dependency.

  • Scalable and Transparent: From small print runs to national activations, every fabric graphic has a plan for the afterlife.

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