Truth About Polyester Textiles

There is misconception that we should avoid polyester because it’s synthetic–it is not natural, it is not organic—it is bad.

Not necessarily.

What is polyester?

It’s made of large polymer molecules that form bigger chains and long fibers.

Polymer uses the acids and alcohol from petroleum and uses the energy from coal and water to create synthetic polyester. [1] These polyester are also known as virgin polyester. Petroleum is not environmentally friendly. **

However, there is a way to bypass petroleum and use recycled plastic–which helps conserve the environment.

The recycled plastic used are considered “food grade” and FDR approved for our water bottles, the plastic containers for food, etc.

These plastic bottles are sorted and cleaned, crushed into fiber size, and then stretched enough to be threaded for textiles materials.  [2]

Pro’s and Cons of Polyster: Alternative Down Comforters

Pros:

  • Vegan
  • Eco friendly. If it’s made out of recycled water bottles.
  • Easy Care. Down alternative can be used many times and washed many times with cold water and then air-dried. It’s durable.
  • Resists shrinking and stretching. Once pre-shrunk, it resists shrinking and stretching.
  • Doesn’t absorb moisture. It is not damaged by mildew.
  • Non-allergenic insulator.

Cons:

  • It absorbs oil. It’s harder to get rid of oil stain.
  • Traps heat. Because it traps moisture and heat, it may be uncomfortable in warm weathers compared to cotton.
  • Static. Bedding may attract static electricity.
  • Irritating. Some fibers can be irritating to delicate skin.

 

We at Organic Textiles LLC know the pragmatic uses of polyester. However, we take it a step further by incorporating 100% organic cotton in our polyblends. We want to get the best of both worlds and reduce any inconvenient byproducts.

 

Sources:
https://linensource.blair.com/content.jsp?pageName=polyester-v-cotton-bedding

http://www.madehow.com/Volume-4/Polyester-Fleece.html

 

**Read more about the environmental impact of oil here.

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