Recycled polyester—often called rPET—is gaining attention in the fashion and textile world. It’s marketed as an eco-friendly alternative to virgin polyester, made from used plastic bottles and other PET waste. But as with any material that gets popular, recycled polyester has also attracted its fair share of myths and misunderstandings.

Let’s clear the air and break down six of the most common myths surrounding recycled polyester fabric.

Myth 1: Recycled Polyester Is Less Durable Than Virgin Polyester

One of the most widespread misconceptions is that recycled polyester doesn't hold up as well as virgin polyester. The idea is that because it's made from used materials, it must be weaker.

Truth is, recycled polyester has nearly identical mechanical properties to virgin polyester. The recycling process doesn’t inherently degrade the polymer’s strength. In fact, many rPET flakes manufacturers ensure high-quality sorting and cleaning of PET waste before processing, which preserves the material's durability. Once it's spun into yarn and woven into fabric, it behaves much like its virgin counterpart—strong, wrinkle-resistant, and long-lasting.

Myth 2: Recycled Polyester Is 100% Sustainable

Recycled polyester is a better option than virgin polyester, but calling it "100% sustainable" is a stretch. Sustainability isn’t just about using recycled materials. It also depends on energy use, chemical treatment, microplastic pollution, and end-of-life recyclability.

The rPET process does reduce dependence on fossil fuels and diverts plastic from landfills. But it’s not a closed loop. Most recycled polyester isn’t recyclable again at scale. And the production process still uses a decent amount of energy, often from non-renewable sources.

So yes, rPET is a step in the right direction, but it’s not a silver bullet. Brands and consumers still need to think beyond material choice when assessing sustainability.

Myth 3: All Recycled Polyester Is Made from Textile Waste

It’s easy to assume recycled fabric means recycled clothes, but that’s rarely the case. Most rPET today comes from post-consumer plastic bottles—not old garments. That’s because textile-to-textile recycling is still complex, expensive, and technologically limited.

Sorting blended fabrics, removing dyes, and separating fibers makes garment recycling tough. Meanwhile, PET bottles are single-material and abundant, making them ideal feedstock.

This has led to some criticism. Some argue that using bottles for clothing diverts them from bottle-to-bottle recycling streams, which are more circular. It’s a valid concern and a growing area of debate among rPET manufacturers in India and other major markets. Until textile recycling tech catches up, most rPET will still come from plastic bottles.

Myth 4: Recycled Polyester Doesn’t Shed Microplastics

Just because it’s recycled doesn’t mean it stops being plastic. Like virgin polyester, rPET fabrics still shed microplastics during washing and wear. These particles end up in water systems and, eventually, in marine life—and potentially us.

The myth that recycled polyester doesn’t shed likely comes from the perception that “eco-friendly” equals “harmless.” But the recycling process doesn’t change the fundamental structure of polyester—it’s still a synthetic polymer.

The solution isn’t just switching fabrics. It includes using tighter weaves, washing clothes less often, using microplastic filters in washing machines, and developing better post-consumer recycling systems.

Myth 5: All rPET Is the Same Quality

There’s a massive difference in quality between various rPET fabrics, and it depends heavily on the source material and processing methods. Some recycled polyesters are rough, low-grade, and suitable only for industrial uses. Others are soft, high-performance fabrics fit for fashion or sportswear.

What makes the difference? Clean input materials, advanced filtration, and sophisticated spinning technology. rPET flakes manufacturers who specialize in premium flakes can produce raw material nearly indistinguishable from virgin polyester. But when recycling systems are poorly regulated or contaminated, the final product can be inconsistent.

If you’ve had a bad experience with a recycled polyester garment—maybe it felt stiff, pilled quickly, or lost its shape—it was likely a quality control issue, not a flaw of rPET itself.

Myth 6: Recycled Polyester Is Always Better Than Natural Fibers

This myth is trickier because it depends on how you define “better.” Recycled polyester beats cotton in water usage, land use, and chemical pesticide requirements. But it falls short when it comes to biodegradability and microplastic shedding.

Natural fibers like cotton, linen, or wool decompose in the environment. Recycled polyester doesn’t. So while rPET can be more sustainable in production, it lingers in landfills or oceans for decades if not properly disposed of.

Context matters. A recycled polyester running shirt may outperform a cotton one in durability, sweat-wicking, and carbon footprint. But a biodegradable cotton t-shirt might make more sense for short-life fashion. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution here.

Final Thoughts

Recycled polyester isn’t perfect, but it’s a smart step forward in the journey toward more sustainable textiles. The myths around it often come from oversimplification—assuming all recycled products are equal or that “eco-friendly” means zero impact.

In reality, recycled polyester is complex. Its quality, sustainability, and impact depend on how it’s made, what it's made from, and how it's used. Like any material, it has trade-offs.

If you’re a brand looking to make a switch, choose suppliers carefully. The best rPET manufacturers in India and beyond are transparent about their processes and certifications. And if you’re a consumer, ask questions, read labels, and don’t fall for greenwashing.

Sustainable fashion doesn’t come from buzzwords. It comes from informed choices, long-lasting products, and systems built for circularity.