Recycled polyester (RPET) comes from PET (the chemical name for polyester) plastic bottles that are melted down and re-spun into new, recycled plastic products such as polyester fibers, yarns and fabrics.
Polypropylene (PP) plastic is a form of hard plastic created out of refining petroleum, another scarce and valuable commodity extracted from the earth.
PP is one of the most used plastics in the world. But because PP is mixed with metals and other materials to make large domestic appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines and air conditioners, it is laborious and costly to separate the PP from the metal, leaving PP estimated at only 3% recycled.
Almost every product has a manufacturing process that consumes energy and water, and produces carbon dioxide emissions and as such has an environmental impact.
Using RPET instead of regular polyester we use:
Using RPP instead of regular polypropylene we use:
In order to reduce the waste, we all have to make responsible decisions about which materials to use. For example, if we use five pounds of RPET yarn to make Waste2Wear fabric we can:
Recycled fabrics are a safe alternative to regular polyester and polyester blends. Waste2Wear fabrics are produced with the highest degree of care for health and safety. Our products are tested and certified by worldwide industry leaders in quality testing including:
A wide range of different textile products can be made from recycled fabrics:
We are constantly working on new developments. If you have questions about possibilities contact: info@waste2wear.com
It is estimated that a staggering one and a half billion plastic bottles are bought and thrown away across the globe every day. We believe that waste is only waste when we don’t do anything with it. We see these bottles as a viable, eco-friendly and sustainable resource. Humankind is exhausting and polluting our planet, and that is exactly why we need to be more responsible and take care of our home. We need to rethink how we use our valuable resources.
We are always looking for alternative ways to use plastic waste to reduce the plastic problem. In addition to recycling plastic bottles into sustainable fabrics and finished products, we recycle polypropylene, nylon and high impact polystyrene.
A team of professional waste collectors are contracted to collect post-consumer plastic water bottles. The bottles are flattened and taken by truck to a recycling facility. This is where the conversion process begins in turning the bottles into a new usable commodity.
Polyester garments can be recycled indefinitely through a chemical process that breaks down polyester to its basic components (PTA + EG). These components can later on be re-polymerized to create RPET again. This process can be repeated indefinitely as the chemically recycled polymer has the same attributes as virgin materials. This is different with the traditional mechanical recycling (melt and extrude) that only can go through a certain amount of cycles due to material degradation. However, at this moment, the companies with the technology to do so are in a stage in which the level of efficiency and scale makes the process still quite expensive.
There are at the same time several very promising initiatives in Asia and in Europe from which we have partnered with some of them to collaborate and define value chains beyond end-of-life cycles of garments. We will publish our progress through our site and social channels.
In most cases bottles are collected from residential and commercial compounds as well as coastal areas by small cooperatives, and sold to certified collection centers. These facilities operate under a Renewable Resources Management Business License issued by the local government.
Important note: Plastic bottles used in the fabrics are not taken from landfills but diverted before they arrive there. This prevents the unsafe labor conditions of landfill waste picking and ensures proper compensation for the collectors.
Current worldwide demand for textile fibers is over 100 million tonnes per year and synthetic fabrics account for more than 50% of this consumption. Trying to replace synthetic fibers with cotton would have an immense environmental impact.
Natural fibers like cotton, when compared with synthetic fibers, present advantages in terms of waste production due to the biodegradability of both their discarded textiles and their micro-fibers. However, cotton has a very intensive resource consumption, mainly in terms of water and land degradation, due to the use of insecticides and herbicides. The cultivation and production of 1 kg of cotton requires on average 20,000 liters of water and some experts indicate that cotton is the largest user of water among all the agricultural commodities.
RPET fabric has a 50% lower carbon footprint than organic cotton. Furthermore, compared with other synthetic fibres, RPET polyester fabric has almost a 90% lower carbon footprint than nylon, and 75% lower than polyester.
Recycled polyester (RPET) comes from PET (the chemical name for polyester) plastic bottles that are melted down and re-spun into new, recycled plastic products such as polyester fibers, yarns and fabrics.
Polypropylene (PP) plastic is a form of hard plastic created out of refining petroleum, another scarce and valuable commodity extracted from the earth.
PP is one of the most used plastics in the world. But because PP is mixed with metals and other materials to make large domestic appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines and air conditioners, it is laborious and costly to separate the PP from the metal, leaving PP estimated at only 3% recycled.
Almost every product has a manufacturing process that consumes energy and water, and produces carbon dioxide emissions and as such has an environmental impact.
Using RPET instead of regular polyester we use:
Using RPP instead of regular polypropylene we use:
In order to reduce the waste, we all have to make responsible decisions about which materials to use. For example, if we use five pounds of RPET yarn to make Waste2Wear fabric we can:
Sven Bleekemolen is a Dutch entrepreneur and textile engineer. He is a versatile executive with a broad skill set and experience in a global marketplace. Lived and worked in Europe, Indonesia, and Turkey. Solid expertise in management of start-up to mature fashion companies in competitive wholesale and retail markets.
In his role as director of several companies, Sven built strong knowledge of international wholesale, retail, B2B sales, production and brand development. He has a strategic and innovative mindset, always focused on business development. He has a record of identifying opportunities and leading diverse teams to surpass revenue goals.
Sven has a strong focus on sustainability and is excited to discover the possibilities that lie in Waste2Wear’s groundbreaking material and blockchain technologies. He is committed to creating a major contribution to the business performance of Waste2Wear along with the transition to a more circular economy for a better outcome of the world.
Stefan Kleijkamp is a highly experienced Global Quality and Compliance Manager with over 15 years of experience in the industry. Originally from the Netherlands, Stefan has spent the last two decades working in Asia, with 17 of those years in China. He is fluent in Chinese and has worked with a wide range of product groups including textile, apparel, hard goods and plastics. Throughout his career, Stefan has held positions in quality and compliance management for both large and medium sized companies, as well as in purchasing and logistics. His extensive experience has given him a deep understanding of the challenges and issues facing the industry, particularly in relation to traceability of recycled materials such as textile, cotton and polyester. With his expertise in quality and compliance, Stefan is dedicated to ensuring that the products and services provided by Waste2Wear meet the highest standards in quality, sustainability and environmental responsibility.
Monique Maissan is a Dutch entrepreneur and textile engineer specializing in sustainable solutions for the industry. As CEO and founder of Waste2Wear, she leads a committed team in creating products and services for a better future. Her vision has driven the company to produce fabrics and products made from recycled plastic bottles (RPET) and recycled polypropylene (RPP) plus award winning blockchain and RPET verification test RA-3.
Monique has won several industry awards, most recently:
Finalist of “Future Leader” World Sustainability Awards 2022;
“Outstanding Achiever” of Global Green Economic Forum, Women Eco Game Changer Awards 2022;
“Woman Leader in Plastic Recycling” Plastic Recycling Conference Asia** 2022;
“The Sustainable Entrepreneur of the Year” of Entrepreneurs’ Organization*** 2021.
She is constantly on the lookout for new and better ways to recycle more plastic. Monique’s drive comes from her determination to do her part to leave this world in a better place for her two adult children and all of the next generation
