How Are Biodegradable Fibres Revolutionising Our Wardrobes and the Planet?
As an eco-conscious consumer, you've likely heard about sustainable textiles and their growing impact. The fashion industry is transforming at an unprecedented rate thanks to innovative new fibres that are better for the Planet.
Polyester, once the poster child for plastics pollution, now has a sustainable makeover that is biodegradable.
These new biodegradable polyesters are revolutionising wardrobes and the future of textiles. In this article, you'll learn about how biodegradable fibres are crafted, their environmental benefits, and why some of the biggest fashion brands are making the switch to these eco-friendly fabrics.
The age of sustainable fashion is here, and biodegradable textiles are leading the charge.
The Problem With Traditional Polyester in Fashion
Conventional polyester is one of the most popular fibres used in clothing and textiles today, but it is not biodegradable. Here are just a few of the many ways traditional polyester fibres negatively impact the environment:
● Polyester textiles shed microplastic fibres when washed, which enter waterways and oceans. Research estimates up to 700,000 microfibres can be released into the environment per wash load, accumulating in the food chain and natural environment.
● Polyester production requires large amounts of crude oil and emits high amounts of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide compared to natural fibres. The production process generates nearly 7 kg of carbon dioxide per kilogram of polyester fibre.
● Polyester is not biodegradable and can take more than 200 years to decompose in natural environments. Non-biodegradable plastics accumulate in the environment, polluting natural ecosystems and harming wildlife. For example, as polyester decomposes, it releases greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and even methane. The Non-biodegradable plastics also pose risks to wildlife that may ingest fibres or become entangled in the material.
● Textile waste is the second largest contributor to landfills. Billions of polyester garments end up in landfills each year, leaching chemicals into the soil and water. Furthermore, the average person throws away over 70 pounds of clothing per year, much of which is made of polyester and other synthetic fibres.
To address these issues, INTIMITI has created the world's first certified biodegradable polyester fibre-CELYS™.
By replacing traditional polyester with biodegradable/compostable alternatives, the fashion industry can reduce its environmental impact and meet the growing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly textiles. Transitioning to biodegradable fibres is a step towards more sustainable production and consumption in the garment industry.
Introducing Biodegradable Polyester - A Sustainable Alternative
Biodegradable polyester is revolutionising the fashion industry by providing a sustainable alternative to conventional polyester Due to a specially designed molecular structure, biodegradable polyester is compostable when completed in an industrial environment and reduces microplastic pollution.
A Greener Polyester
Not to get all technical but… conventional polyester is made from the polymerisation of ethylene glycol and purified terephthalic acid, which generates a strong polymer chain that is hard to break-down by microorganisms, meaning that it is NOT biodegradable. It contributes to the millions of tons of microplastic pollution in the oceans and environment each year. In contrast, CELYS™ has easy-breaking ester linkages introduced into the polymer backbone through a unique polymerization formula, allowing complete microbial decomposition, making CELYS™ polymer 95.4% compostable within just 179 days under industrial composting conditions
Thanks to a unique chemical construction, CELYS™ polyester fibre provides a great combination of attributes, outperforming those of regular polyester, but with a vastly reduced environmental impact. At the end of its useful life, CELYS™ fibre will break down in certain environments without leaving behind microplastics or other harmful residues. This helps tackle the growing problem of textile waste and moves us closer to a circular economy.
How CELYS™ Biodegradable Polyester Works and Decomposes
CELYS™ biodegradable polyester fibre degrades through a process known as hydrolysis, where the long polymer chains that make up the polyester fibres break down into smaller water-soluble molecules. This process requires the presence of water and certain microorganisms to aid in decomposition.
How CELYS™ Biodegradable Polyester Decomposes
Biodegradation of polyester takes two steps: polyester macromolecules first break down to small molecules through hydrolysation catalysed by the enzyme/acid excreted by microorganisms, and then followed by assimilation of the small molecules by microorganisms into carbon dioxide, water and biomass.
The first step, i.e. the cleavage of the polymer backbone, is a slow process, which determines the whole biodegradation rate. In traditional polyester, its ester linkages are very stable chemically. Because of this characteristic, the hydrolysation, in other words, the cleavage of the ester linkages is very difficult and very slow. This explains why traditional polyester shows little tendency to biodegrade.
In CELYS™ fibres, easy hydrolysable linkages are inserted into the polymer backbones, which in turn facilitates the hydrolysation, thus greatly accelerates the whole biodegradation rate.
This is why CELYS™ fibres can be compostable while traditional polyester cannot.
Among the many ways of biodegradation, industrial composting is the fastest option, where high temperature (i.e. 58°C±2°C), high humidity (≥50%) and high level of microbial activities provide the most ideal conditions for biodegradation.
Within 6 months in a proper composting environment, CELYS™ biodegradable polyester will decompose into water, carbon dioxide, and biomass at a rate of over 95%. The composted material can then be used as a nutrient-rich fertiliser. CELYS™ biodegradability helps divert textile waste from landfills and reduces pollution from microplastics.
By providing an eco-friendly alternative to traditional non-biodegradable polyester, CELYS™ ’s rapid decomposition and compostability are a much-needed solution to the environmental problems posed by the textile & fashion industries.
The Benefits of Using Biodegradable Polyester for Fashion
The use of biodegradable polyester fibres for fashion offers significant environmental and economic benefits…
Keeping up with consumer demand
As consumers become more aware of the impact of fast fashion and more environmentally conscious, the textile industry is evolving to meet the demand for sustainable and eco-friendly materials. Companies like INTIMITI are pioneering biodegradable polyester fibres that can fully break down in a matter of months. These innovative fabrics are poised to transform wardrobes and reduce waste enabling brands to meet this demand and produce clothing that is better for the planet.
Reduced Pollution
Conventional polyester is a non-biodegradable plastic that pollutes the environment, releasing microplastics into waterways and the ocean, while biodegradable polyester, like CELYS™, has a unique chemical construction through polymerisation to achieve compostability without any microplastic issues. This helps protect wildlife and natural resources from the damaging effects of plastic pollution.
Landfill Reduction
Billions of tons of textile waste accumulate in landfills each year, taking up valuable space. CELYS™ biodegradable polyester can help curb this problem, decomposing in industrial composts and converting into water, carbon dioxide, and biomass. As more fashion brands adopt biodegradable polyester, the volume of textile waste sent to landfills will decrease significantly.
Superior Performance
While providing environmental benefits, CELYS™ biodegradable polyester also outperforms conventional polyester with outstanding attributes for fashion- cottony soft hand, natural-wicking and quick dry, less pilling and low-temp dyeing. This provides a great design freedom for brands and retailers in their creation of sustainable product offerings without compromising on performance or quality.
The Future of Sustainable Fashion With Biodegradable Materials
The future of fashion is biodegradable.
The fashion industry is working tirelessly to implement sustainable and ethical practices, from the design process to end-of-life. True biodegradable fibres are an important step in this process towards more eco-friendly textile production and a greener future for fashion. We can already see how the use of innovative, sustainable fibres like biodegradable polyester will transform the fashion industry and contribute to a healthier environment for generations to come.
As brands adopt these alternative fabrics, biodegradable synthetics may soon become mainstream, allowing us to refresh our wardrobes with the latest styles while also refreshing the planet.
One by one, By choosing biodegradable over non-biodegradable fabrics, businesses, brands and consumers can do their part to reduce pollution and work towards a greener future.
Together, we can make sustainable fashion the new normal.
Conclusion
As businesses and consumers, we have the power to drive real change with the choices we make.
Opting for biodegradable clothing and fabrics is one impactful step towards building a sustainable future for our planet.
While the fashion industry still has a long way to go, the rise of biodegradable polyester and green textiles gives us hope that eco-friendly options will continue gaining mainstream popularity.
Together, we can all do our part by supporting brands that prioritise the environment and choosing garments made of biodegradable fibres.
Every small action makes a difference in revolutionising the way we think about and interact with fashion.
Our wardrobes and our world will be better for it.
