rPET testing for fabrics, yarns and finished products
A label that says recycled polyester is a claim, and a test is how you check it. Waste2Wear has produced rPET fabrics since 2010 and tests its own production every week with RA3, our patent-pending method for recycled polyester. Send us a sample of your fabric, yarn or finished product and we will tell you whether its polyester comes from recycled PET, with the exact percentage.
Why rPET claims need testing
Recycled and virgin polyester are chemically almost identical, so a finished fabric looks, feels and performs the same either way. That makes it easy for virgin polyester to be sold as recycled, and hard for a buyer to notice. Supplier paperwork shows where a material is said to come from, while a test looks at the material itself. When one test developer checked dozens of products sold as recycled polyester, 62% did not contain the recycled content they claimed, Apparel Insider reported.
The stakes went up on 27 September 2026, when EmpCo began requiring environmental claims made to EU consumers to be backed by evidence. If your product says recycled polyester on the label, you need proof that holds up when a regulator or a customer asks for it. Read more in our guide to EmpCo green claims for recycled textiles.
How rPET testing methods differ
Recycled polyester cannot be identified by eye, so every rPET test relies on chemistry. Many commercial tests look for a chemical marker that is added when PET bottles are made and survives recycling. Because bottle producers use different amounts of that marker, this approach gives an estimate of recycled content rather than a measurement.
RA3 takes a different route. It combines established laboratory techniques in several steps and reports the exact percentage of recycled polyester in your sample, so you can compare the result directly with the percentage on your label or specification.
Used by the world's leading companies
Global brands across fashion, retail, hospitality and food use our recycled products, with full traceability on every order.
What an rPET test with RA3 tells you
- Whether the polyester in your sample is recycled PET or virgin polyester.
- The exact percentage of recycled polyester in the sample.
- A signed RA3 certificate for your product and batch, with a product ID, batch number and QR code, that you can share with customers, auditors or your certification body.
If you need a second signature on the result, Wessling can independently validate your individual RA3 result on request, for €150 per sample on top of the test price.
How rPET testing works
1. Tell us what you want tested
Use the form to tell us the material, the product type, the recycled content it claims and how many samples you have.
2. Send your sample
We will reply with shipping instructions. We will tell you how much material to send for your type of sample.
3. We run RA3
The test uses established laboratory techniques across several steps to tell recycled polyester from virgin polyester and measure how much of each is present.
4. You recieve your report
We send you a signed RA3 certificate stating the exact percentage of recycled PET bottle content in your sample.
Price: $250 per sample for an RA3 test. Independent validation of the result by Wessling costs $100 more, so $350 per sample in total.
Request an rPET test
Tell us what you want tested and we will reply with shipping instructions for your samples. An RA3 test costs $250 per sample, or $350 with independent validation by Wessling.
What you get with every test
- A clear answer on whether the polyester in your sample is recycled PET or virgin polyester.
- The exact percentage of recycled polyester in your sample.
- A signed RA3 certificate with a product ID, batch number and QR code you can share.
- Independent validation of your result by Wessling, if you add it to your request.
What we can test
RA3 is built for polyester, so it works on rPET fabrics, yarns and finished products such as garments, bags and accessories. If your material is a blend, such as polyester with cotton or elastane, or is coated or laminated, tell us the composition in the form and we will confirm whether RA3 can test it before you send anything.
RA3 does not test recycled polypropylene, recycled LDPE or nylon. For those materials, see how we verify recycled content across our other product lines.
How we use RA3 on our own rPET
We developed RA3 for our own production before offering it to anyone else. It runs every week at several stages of production, so the rPET going into Waste2Wear fabrics is checked continuously rather than once at the start. On top of testing, each finished product carries a QR code that links to its Environmental Impact Report and blockchain record.
If you would rather buy rPET that has already been tested than test what you have, browse our recycled fabrics.
The evidence behind every claim
New EU rules like PPWR and EmpCo mean recycled content claims now need proof. Our Proof Hub explains what buyers need to show, and how the documentation that comes with every order covers it.
Independently validated by Wessling
We developed RA3 for our own production before offering it to anyone else. It runs every week at several stages of production, so the rPET going into Waste2Wear fabrics is checked continuously rather than once at the start. On top of testing, each finished product carries a QR code that links to its Environmental Impact Report and blockchain record.
If you would rather buy rPET that has already been tested than test what you have, browse our recycled fabrics.
Testing, certification and traceability answer different questions
The three work best together. See the full picture on our recycled content verification page.
| Evidence | The question it answers | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| GRS certificate | Is this supplier certified to process and trade recycled material? | The company |
| RA3 rPET test | Is this material really recycled polyester, and what percentage? | A sample or batch |
| EIR and blockchain QR code | What is this product's environmental impact and production record? | Each product |
The same fabric,
a fraction of the footprint
70%
Less energy used / rPET vs virgin polyester
86%
Less water used / rPET vs virgin polyester
75%
Less COâ‚‚ emitted / rPET vs virgin polyester
Case study · Fashion and apparel
"During our intensive search for sustainable materials for the linings in our bags, we discovered that materials can be called recycled if the non-recycled base is mixed with a minimum of 10-15% recycled material. This was not good enough for us as we want to do the best we can for the environment. Waste2Wear is the only supplier that guarantees 100% recycled material for our bags lining. To prove this, Waste2Wear uses the award-winning RA-3 Assurance test method."
Frits Besemer, CEO and Founder, Alpha 96
Frequently asked questions
What is rPET testing?
rPET testing checks whether the polyester in a fabric, yarn or product is made from recycled PET, such as plastic bottles, rather than virgin polyester. Our RA3 test also measures the exact percentage of recycled polyester in the sample.
Can a test tell recycled polyester from virgin polyester?
Yes. Recycled and virgin polyester look and perform the same, but they can be told apart in the lab. RA3 uses established laboratory techniques across several steps to identify recycled polyester and measure how much of it is present.
What is RA3?
RA3 (Recycling Assurance 3-Step Test) is Waste2Wear's patent-pending test for plastic bottle content in polyester. We developed it in-house and run it every week on our own rPET production. Wessling, an independent laboratory group, validated the methodology in 2021.
Can you test a fabric that Waste2Wear did not make?
Yes. Brands, buyers and suppliers can send us samples of their own fabrics, yarns or finished products. Tell us what you want tested through the form on this page and we will reply with sample instructions.
Does RA3 give an exact percentage?
Yes. RA3 reports the exact percentage of recycled polyester in your sample, not a yes or no answer.
Is the RA3 result independent?
RA3 is run in our own lab. Its methodology was validated by Wessling in 2021, and Wessling can independently validate an individual result on request for €150 per sample.
Can RA3 test recycled polypropylene or nylon?
No. RA3 is designed for polyester only. For our rPP and rLDPE products, we use other forms of evidence, which are explained on our recycled content verification page.
How much does an rPET test cost?
An RA3 test costs $250 per sample. If you also want the result independently validated by Wessling, that costs $100 more, so $350 per sample in total.
Can you test garments and bags, or only fabric?
We can test fabrics, yarns and finished products such as garments, bags and accessories, as long as the material being checked is polyester.