Eco fabrics, recycled polyester and stain free technology: a Q&A

We hope to stand as an example of a contract textiles company making positive, tangible change in the face of climate change. As the world turns to more eco-friendly products, of course this is impacting contract textiles. We've been implementing our sustainability plan across different touchpoints.

Read our full sustainability commitment and current reports.

Today we're going to look exclusively at the part recycled polyester can play in the manufacturing and design of our soft yet mighty performance fabrics. Let’s dive into this FAQ on our recycled fabrics:

Q: What is FibreGuard's vision for recycled polyester fabrics?

We’ve made the development of recycled polyester a core value of our sustainability strategy since 2017. Our vision has always been to reduce the environmental impact of the textile industry while maintaining the luxury and performance our customers expect.

Our journey has progressed through three key phases:

1. Intensive material research beginning in 2017
2. Pilot production in 2020
3. Transitioning all new fabrics to recycled materials by 2025.

Q: When did you reach major milestones in recycled fabric production?

A significant breakthrough came in 2020 when we launched our first collection of blended fabrics that combine recycled fibres with synthetic or natural fibres. This put a flag in the sand, so to speak, for our transition from concept ideation to large-scale production.

Q: How do you verify that your recycled polyester fabrics are truly more sustainable?

We can’t make these claims without baking them up with data and certification specs, of course.

So how does it work?

FibreGuard leverages the Higg Materials Sustainability Index (MSI) to measure and evaluate the environmental impact of our products.

We also comply with the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), which verifies the recycled origins and processes of our raw materials. Together, these frameworks ensure our that recycled polyester production is not only viable but also fully transparent and traceable from source to finished product.

This results in any of our claims being easily verifying online by experts and the general public alike. Learn more.

Q: What are the sources of materials used in your recycled polyester fabrics?

Our recycled polyester fabrics are crafted from yarns derived from both post-consumer and pre-consumer waste:

• Post-consumer waste includes plastic PET bottles and plastic packaging that would otherwise end up in landfills
• Pre-consumer waste comes from manufacturing processes in the textile industry

The waste materials are carefully sorted by colour, resin type, and other properties to ensure quality and avoid impurities in the final product.

Q: Where does your recycled material come from?

Our textile fabrics are produced in mills located in regions with robust production and recycling infrastructures. The sourcing of plastic waste, however, is a global effort. We're work with partners worldwide who share our commitment, with a focus on regions that already have strong recycling systems.

Q: How is raw plastic material transformed into textiles?

The journey from waste to fabric involves several complex steps:

1. Collection and sorting of plastic waste
2. Thorough cleaning and purification
3. Processing into PET pellets
4. Melting and extruding into fibres
5. Spinning into yarns
6. Weaving into our signature fabrics

The cleaning and sorting phase is the most challenging part of this process. It requires meticulous attention to remove impurities and ensure high-quality yarn that can meet our high-quality standards.

Check out our Fabrics Academy article: Sustainability: The Future of Textiles

Q: How do you ensure that recycled polyester fabrics maintain FibreGuard's signature soft, luxurious touch?

We take the tactile feel of our performance fabrics very seriously. This is why we implement a strict Quality Management System all throughout the production cycle and adhere to rigorous industry standards.

All FibreGuard fabrics are tested in our accredited Labotex laboratory in Belgium to ensure they meet performance and quality requirements, including maintaining our signature luxurious touch and deeply saturated colour lines.

Q: How do you address concerns about energy and water consumption in recycling processes?

Recycling processes often consume significant amounts of energy and water, which may generate industrial waste. We know that recycling processes can be resource-intensive, often consume significant amounts of energy and water, which may generate industrial waste.

This is as big a concern for us as it is for consumers, and why we comply with internationally recognised standards and certifications, including the Global Recycled Standard (GRS); the Environmental Management Standard (ISO 14001), and the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100.

These frameworks monitor every stage of our supply chain from the sourcing of waste materials to final textile production. This ensures minimal environmental impact and full traceability, which is very important for us.

Q: What tangible environmental results have your recycled polyester fabrics achieved?

Our commitment to sustainability has yielded significant environmental benefits:

On average, 25 one-litre bottles are re-purposed per kilogram of recycled (GRS) yarn produced, effectively keeping post-consumer waste out of landfills.

To assess and compare the impact of our fabrics, we use the Higg MSI. According to their measurements, our recycled fabrics use:

1. 15% less CO₂
2. 20% less water
3. 5% less water pollution
4. 31% less non-renewable energy compared to virgin polyester

These metrics give us a simple way of measuring the real results from our efforts, while providing our customers with products that are making a positive impact.

Looking for more information? Find all the hard stats and full reports: download our sustainability commitment update.

Q: What advantages does the shift to recycled polyester fabrics offer, from a business perspective?

Our shift to recycled polyester is a key component of our strategy to become a more sustainable company: what we like to think of as a ‘forever company’.

This transition has reduced our reliance on virgin resources, which then has the knock-on effect of:

1. Enhancing our brand reputation in an increasingly eco-conscious market
2. Aligning with growing customer demand for transparent, environmentally responsible products
3. Ensuring compliance with upcoming European legislation on environmental impact

We're proud to lead the way in eco-friendly fabric innovation, and are excited about continuing this journey with consumers who value quality, performance, and environmental stewardship.

Q: How have customers responded to this shift?

Customers have responded positively, driven by increasing demand for our eco-friendlier product lines, and the transparency in our supply chain.

This move not only differentiates us but also aligns with our commitment to environmental responsibility and our core values. We're proud to be at the forefront of ‘eco fabric’ innovation, and we’re excited for ever more wins in the future.

Join us

Our work with recycled polyester is just one part of our commitment to creating a more sustainable future for the contract textile industry. Join us in making choices that are better for your home, workplace, hotel and more… and better for our planet.