RPET fabric or Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate is a new type of reusable and sustainable material on the rise. Its yarn is made from plastic bottles, so it is also called recycled plastic bottle fabric. We need to recycle them from PET bottle recycling, and crush plastic bottles to make rpet flakes, and finally make fabrics. 

How Is RPET Fabric Made?

These are the steps included for the process of making rPET fabric:  

The selection process – Plastic bottles are collected and sorted, from clear plastic and coloured plastic.  

The cleaning process – The bottles are then cleaned; labels are removed, and bottle caps are removed. Advanced equipment such as infrared NIR equipment and metal detector removes any non-PET components.  

Shredding –  The bottles are shredded into flakes using hot air processes. The flakes are then cleaned again and thoroughly checked so there are no impurities.  

Processing – The flakes go through a de-polymerisation and re-polymerisation process which turns them into PET chips or pellets. 

Melting – These pellets are then melted and extruded. They are then smoothed, stretched and placed on a spinneret in order to make tiny filaments. 

Yarn to fabric – The filaments are stretched over heated rollers and spooled together. After this, it is ready to be woven or knitted into fabric.  

Features of RPET fabric:

Durable

Recycled polyester fibers are strong and tightly interwoven, making RPET a durable bag fabric. It can take a lot of wear and tear when you travel with it, run errands with it, carry your textbooks or work supplies, and even take it hiking and backpacking.

Waterproof

Water resistance is a key quality of bag fabrics. Just like virgin polyester, RPET absorbs droplets from water or other liquids. It also doesn't absorb liquids, which means it dries out quickly after getting wet. This makes it an ideal material for bags and backpacks that you take with you in nature, as there is always the possibility that you will get caught in the rain or get splashed by water in puddles.

Elastic

Because of its elasticity, recycled polyester holds its shape well and won't lose its shape or wrinkle, even if it gets pulled or bulges outward. Bags need this quality to hold bulky items and carry them around in a variety of settings, while still maintaining their original structure.

Heat resistant

Recycled polyester is heat resistant, which means it needs a lot of heat to burn.

Retains Color

RPET retains color very well, allowing fashion houses to use it to create clothing and accessories in a wide range of vibrant shades if they so choose.

Environmentally friendly and recyclable:

Recycled polyester is more environmentally friendly than virgin polyester.

Virgin polyester is made from petroleum-derived substances. Oil refineries pollute our air, water and soil a lot. Meanwhile, the plants that synthesize PET and produce polyester waste enormous amounts of energy producing untreated, toxin-laden wastewater.

When consumers throw products made from PET into landfills, the toxins leach into the soil and harm the environment.

Recycling PET bottles into RPET fabric is an effective way to avoid pollution.

By converting existing PET into useful polyester-like materials using a less energy-intensive process, we can help eliminate the need for virgin polyester entirely. At the same time, we can put an end to environmentally harmful manufacturing practices.