NatCap - Polyester lifecycle

Oil and gas are used to make petrochemical products like plastics and polyester

The life span of polyester

Petrochemical plants produce petrochemical products like PET (polyethylene terephthalate)

PET is formed using heat, high pressure and solvents, creating a liquid that is pressed and cut to make pellets

The pellets are melted and stretched to make synthetic polyester yarn used commonly in textiles

The yarn is woven and can be blended with other materials to make clothes

Clothes made of polyester are distributed and sold globally

Once thrown away, a majority of clothes end up in landfills or being burned

Blue T-shirt isolated on white background

Blue denim mini skirt with buttons on white background

Red elegant skirt with ribbon bow isolated on white

Men's trousers isolated on white background

Red shorts isolated on a white background

Male dark blue blazer on isolated background, men jacket

Only 13% of clothing is recycled in the US

We can do more: Recycled clothing is either reused or turned back into PET pellets through a chemical shredding and separation process to be woven into new clothes or textiles

Clothes can be donated, re-used and resold