Polyester is projected to maintain its dominance as the leading fibre in textile and garment production, even as other fibres like cellulosic and bioplastic-derived ones show rapid growth. A report entitled ‘Fibre innovations aid the creation of circular textile and apparel supply chains’ from Textiles Intelligence predicts that polyester production will exceed 80 million tonnes by 2030.
The report emphasises the increasing focus on enabling fibre-to-fibre PET polyester recycling (FFrPET), with major companies investing in circular systems for the material. Notable projects include Eastman’s methanolysis-based recycling plants and the collaboration between Suez and SK Geo Centric to establish a PET plastic and fibre recycling plant using Loop Industries technology in France.
Indorama and Carbios are also working on an enzymatic PET bio-recycling production plant capable of processing 50,000 tonnes of post-consumer PET waste annually. Meanwhile, Andritz Group is engaged in several recycling projects in France and partnering with companies like Pellenc ST and Synergies TLC to create industrial-scale business Nouvelles Fibres Textiles.
Spanish fashion giant Inditex has joined forces with Ambercycle to establish a commercial-scale textile regeneration factory, supporting the chemical process of breaking down polyester into monomers for the production of regenerated polyester fibres.
In light of these developments, the textile industry is moving closer towards sustainable and circular practices, offering promising prospects for a more environmentally friendly future