Top recycled polyester yarn products with #tide®

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Polyester was invented in the mid-1930s by an American chemist while working for DuPont, a multinational chemical company known for the discovery and development of nylon, neoprene, Lycra, and many other polymers. Polyester is commonly made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and used for fibers. PET, itself made from petroleum, undergoes polymerization, a chemical process involving the molecular combination of several monomers, that results in a liquid form that can be extruded into small pellets. The small pellets are then melt-spun to form a polyester yarn that can be used to make woven textiles.

In the 1950s, polyester was considered a “miracle” fabric because of its durability, wrinkle resistance, and stain resistance. Many French luxury fashion brands such as Dior, Chanel and Givenchy used polyester in their new collections. In the mid-1960s, the material became an important symbol of modernity. The post-war society wanted to do things differently, in art, but also in the production of goods. The properties of polyester have made it a great material for a wide variety of applications and durable products such as: seatbelts, upholstery textiles, ropes, carpets, or car seats.

End-of-life solution

But the production of polyester yarn comes with an environmental challenge. The fabrication of the material necessitates the extraction of finite fossil resources and usually does not take into consideration the product’s end of life at the design stage. Circular economy principles, which focus on eliminating waste and pollution, circulating products and materials, and regenerating nature, provide long-term solutions to fight some of the greatest current environmental challenges.

Making polyester yarn with recycled PET is a solution that goes in line with some of the circular economy principles. It offers several advantages:

• The production of recycled polyester yarn requires less energy and water than the making of virgin polyester yarn. In this way, it helps reduce soil contamination, and air and water pollution.

• The manufacturing of #tide’s rPET emits 5 times less CO2 than the production of virgin PET.

• Less pollution on land and in the ocean.

Using what’s already there helps slow down the depletion of fossil resources and guarantees that the material is kept in the material cycle.

Product design is one of the most important steps in circular systems. When it comes to fiber-to-fiber recycling, considerable adjustments remain to be made, from an economic and technical standpoint. However, the extrusion of rPET granules into recycled polyester yarn to make durable products provides a considerable solution.

Here are 5 case studies demonstrating what can be achieved with recycled polyester yarn made with #tide’s premium rPET granules.

1. Recycled polyester carpets by Condor Group

Condor Group is Europe’s leader in the production of premium flooring solutions, from artificial grass to car mats and luxury carpets. The Dutch company joined forces with Tide Ocean SA to produce carpets and car mats made with #tide’s recycled high quality granules. They even developed artificial grass with #tide’s recycled HDPE material.

Condor Group’s commitment to sustainability is strong: they installed 13,316 solar panels on the roofs of their facilities which they use for their productions and offices, and they aim to be 100% energy-neutral in their electricity consumption by 2025. They are also determined to implement circular solutions in their operations, constantly increasing the percentage of recycled content in their product, through the use of #tide ocean material; 100% of their felt backs are made entirely of rPET; by 2030 they aim to generate more than half of their sales from circular products.

Jan Hoekman Jr from the owner family of Condor Group says: "The CO2 reduction is not the only benefit of using #tide ocean material®, the ecological and social impact is also a very important part of this cooperation. Giving local communities new opportunities and empowering them to restore nature."

Condor Group has proven that the right recycled raw materials can be used to make durable products with the highest environmental and quality standards.

2. Toile Ocean by Winter & Company

Winter & Company is a Swiss company that creates state-of-the-art cover materials for leading designers and international brands. They are the first company to have created a book cover woven with recycled ocean-bound plastic yarn, and they used #tide’s recycled rPET material for that.

Sustainability has always been a major concern for the fourth-generation family-run company. They carefully consider the choices of their materials, where they source their products, traceability factors, and recyclability. #tide ocean material is a certified high-quality material made of 100% recycled ocean-bound plastic. #tide® can be traced thanks to blockchain technology and has both a strong environmental and social impact. Those criteria led Winter & Company to choose #tide ocean material for their innovative collection: Toile Ocean. Toile Ocean can be used for book covers, it has already been used to create a children’s book and to make the book cover of Basel’s official Zoo book. It can also be used to create premium packaging, shopping bags and stationary items like menu cards in restaurants.

Making a product such as a book cover more circular can yield significant impact. If the recycled polyester yarn in Toile Ocean had been used as the cover material for volume 1 of Harry Potter, it would have bound around 75 million plastic bottles.

3. Sport by Kvadrat

Kvadrat is a Danish company that has deep roots in Scandinavia’s design tradition. They are famous for creating innovative and state-of-the-art textiles having collaborated with world-renowned artists such as Olafur Eliasson, Alfredo Häberli, Raf Simons, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec or Roman Signer.

To show their commitment to the environment, Kvadrat created the first upholstery textile made of 100% recycled ocean-bound plastic with #tide: Sport. The collection was designed by architect and designer Patricia Urquiola. Her vision was to create a textile structure that would add tactile multidimensionality and vibrancy to a high-end product with a compelling sustainability story.

Stine Find Osther, Vice President Design at Kvadrat says:
"#tide has been very amazing because they have offered full transparency. In the way they’re working from the collector, the NGOs, and the full journey of the material."

Wallpaper* magazine itself states: "With Sport, Kvadrat and Urquiola affirm their commitment to innovation in design, as they constantly push the boundaries of domestic design to set the tone for future living."

That’s another example that recycled plastic products such as #tide ocean material can meet the highest quality standards for recycled polyester yarn to create durable products with both an environmental and social impact.

4. Sneakers collection by ALDI Süd

Aldi Süd, one of the leading retailers in Europe, launched a collection of slip-on sneakers made with 90% #tide recycled ocean-bound plastic polyester yarn.

They come in two colors reminiscent of the ocean: light blue and dark blue. The inner lining and sole are also made with #tide’s recycled polyester yarn.

To promote the collaboration with #tide, Aldi Süd brought in the renowned German polar explorer, researcher, skipper, and environmental activist Arved Fuchs. In 1989, he became the first person to reach both the North and South Poles on foot within one year. Since then, Fuchs has become a passionate advocate for the environment.

Part of his work focuses on educating school children about climate change. He states: "The purchase of this ocean-bound plastic item helps to reduce ocean pollution and CO2 emissions, a vital concern in times of climate change where even a small contribution can make a big difference."

5. Braided charging cable by Boompods

British consumer electronics brands, Boompods Limited, have replaced virgin plastics in their speakers, earphones, charging cables and other products by #tide ocean material. More specifically, they used a recycled polyester yarn to make a collection of durable braided charging cables.

Not only do the cables bear a sustainability message, but they also are strong and flexible: they were bend tested 12000+ times.

David Tansley, the co-founder of Boompods says: "Through our collaboration with Tide Ocean, Boompods has embarked on a transformative journey that merges innovation with sustainability, shaping the future of responsible tech. The exceptional quality of materials and the seamless supply chain to our factory have been instrumental in our success."

A whole range of impactful products

The use of recycled polyester yarn made with #tide in various products highlights the potential of sustainable materials to drive innovation and environmental responsibility across industries. From carpets by Condor Group to upholstery textiles by Kvadrat and durable charging cables by Boompods, these examples demonstrate how #tide’s recycled granules can be extruded into yarns and meet the highest standards of quality, functionality, and design. By embracing circular economy principles, companies are not only reducing their carbon footprint but also giving new life to ocean-bound plastic.

As these case studies show, recycled yarn is a versatile solution that supports both sustainability and product excellence, paving the way for a more responsible future.