Polyester: Why It’s Bad For The Environment

You are probably well aware of the fact that polyester isn’t environmentally friendly.

It is, in fact, one of the biggest pollutants out there.

The bad news is that polyester is incredibly common.

You can find it in the majority of popular clothing and similar items.

Unless there is a tag on that shirt that says otherwise, the chances are that the shirt in question is a pollutant.

But knowing that something is bad for the environment isn’t enough.

To truly understand and start caring about the environment, you should get to know polyester better.

What Is Polyester?

So, what is polyester, you might be wondering?

The term ‘polyester’ refers to any piece of textile or fabric made out of polyester fibers or yarns.

Polyester is essentially a shortened term for a human-made synthetic polymer, referred to as polyethylene terephthalate or PET.

Synthetic polyester fibers (and some plant-based) are derived from ethylene, petroleum’s constituent.

You can also find ethylene elsewhere.

By and large, polyester is not biodegradable, which is why and how this material contributes to global pollution.

Although apparel products can be made out solely of polyester, clothing brands will most likely blend it with natural fibers such as cotton.

Polyester is primarily used to decrease production costs but does tend to be more comfortable than natural alternatives.

Additionally, polyester improves durability, shrinkage, and the wrinkling profile in apparel products.

The History of Polyester

Polyester was first synthesized back during the first half of the 20th century.

The material owes its rise to fame to World War II, as this is where it has seen its first real-life application.

The Allied powers needed fibers for parachutes and similar war material, so they resorted to polyester.

After the war, the idea was born, and polyester turned into quite a success.

Consumers were happy owing to their new clothes’ increased durability and other mentioned benefits and thus, fashion companies started regularly using polyester in clothes.

Throughout the past couple of decades, the increased concern for global pollution has shed light on polyester as a pollutant.

Despite this, polyester still reigns supreme in the fashion industry.

How Is Polyester Made?

So, what is polyester made of?

Here’s a rather scientific explanation.

First, a monomer is created through the reaction between ethylene glycol and dimethyl terephthalate.

Then, the monomer reacts with dimethyl terephthalate, thus creating a polymer.

The polyester polymer is then extruded in long strips, which are left to cool and dry.

Then, the strips are cut into smaller pieces.

These pieces are melted to create a substance with a density and structure similar to honey.

Then a spinneret is used to create fibers.

The resulting substance can be cut and reacted with other chemicals and materials to be used in apparel.

Polyester Uses in Clothing

People usually take polyester for granted.

Some people even claim that they know that something isn’t made out of polyester because it doesn’t ‘feel like polyester.’

In truth, one of the important reasons why polyester has seen such wide use is its unique ability to take the appearance of many forms of fiber, natural or otherwise.

Depending on what the goal was and what the manufacturing process looked like, polyester can resemble cotton, silk, linen, or wool.

And this is when used in a pure sense.

Through blending (this is how it commonly appears in apparel), it can take on a wide variety of forms.

That is one of the main reasons why you need to educate yourself on polyester if you want to cut it out of your life.

You have to take a look at the label to be 100% certain that a piece of clothing has no polyester in it.

Clothing manufacturers most commonly blend polyester with cotton.

This mix is prevalent in shirts and T-shirts.

For suits, fashion companies combine polyester with wool.

Not only does this make the production process cheaper and quicker, but polyester feels more comfortable to the skin and is easy to maintain.

Polyester is fairly light.

It also has solid warming properties, which is why you can often find it on the inside of ski jackets.

That provides warmth for the skier, while not being too heavy.

The same goes for other winter-resistant jackets, as well.

Why Is It Bad for the Environment?

Degradable

As you are likely more than aware of, polyester is very bad for the environment.

Some polyester types are biodegradable, but, for the most part, it is here to stay for a long time when made. ​

It is a very environmentally harmful material.

Polyester contains harmful chemicals, some of which are known to be carcinogenic.

These are emitted to air or water and tend to cause environmental damage.

Is polyester plastic?

We know that plastic is a huge pollutant, and you’ve seen all the documentaries with the ocean fauna getting trapped in 6-pack plastic holders.

However, the damage that polyester causes to the environment is different. In a sense, the origin of polyester and plastic is similar.

There is a misconception that polyester isn’t degradable.

Although it is very much true that it isn’t biodegradable, most polyester-made materials won’t stay around forever.

At least not in that form.

Polyester does persist in the ecosystem, but in the end, it breaks down into microplastic.

Microplastic is one of the biggest ocean pollutants and a direct consequence of polyester.

Plastic works a bit differently.

So, you wouldn’t throw away any piece of clothing?

Well, as many as 2,000 of these microfibers come off each textile product that you have.

Yes, this happens every time you wash it.

Production

When looking at synthetic fibers in general (which are all pollutants), polyester may be less energy-intensive.

However, it requires double the amount of energy than conventional cotton.

So, in addition to using carcinogens and other harmful chemicals, polyester is not energy-efficient.

However, polyester is less water-intensive when compared to natural fibers.

Don’t think that this is all good news, though.

Although polyester products aren’t water guzzlers, they require chemical dyes for coloring.

Polyester can’t be dyed with natural and low-impact dyes.

Chemical dyes leave a residue, and this residue is generally discharged into the water streams.

So, yes, polyester needs less water for production, but it pollutes water streams, endangering wildlife, fish, even people.

Cotton vs. Polyester

Cotton is grown naturally and harvested from plants.

Cotton fibers are pure cellulose.

These fibers are fully bio-degradable, and clothes made from 100% cotton are eco-friendly (depending on the manufacturing process).

Moreover, cotton is more breathable and is generally comfortable.

An important factor to consider is that it is hypoallergenic.

So, cotton is fully biodegradable and, therefore, absolutely sustainable.

First and foremost, polyester doesn’t absorb perspiration.

Although it can feel more comfortable to the touch and stronger than cotton, it doesn’t work well with sweat and isn’t all that breathable.

In addition to all this, polyester is a harmful pollutant that doesn’t play with the environment.

It’s a human-made fiber that is derived from highly pollutant petroleum.

Polyester isn’t biodegradable and is in no way sustainable.

Therefore, cotton is the most viable eco-friendly and comfortable alternative.

Don’t Buy Polyester

Unfortunately, we live in an era where our planet’s health is in very present danger.

Over the years of greed and ignorance, we’ve caused damage on Earth that we still can repair.

Polyester is one of the biggest ocean pollutants, and yet we still buy apparel that contains this harmful material.

Luckily, there are many eco-friendly alternatives available nowadays, from 100% cotton-based clothes, to interesting and creative solutions.

The world needs to embrace the recycling mentality, and we need to stop buying and wearing things made of harmful materials like polyester.

There are many more eco-conscious and comfortable alternatives out there. Sustainability is the key to our Earth’s survival, and polyester is not sustainable.