Markets For Polyester In Performance Apparel: Looking Ahead To Bio-based And Recycled Materials

Polyester has transformed the global textile market and is a cornerstone of apparel—including performance apparel—as well as being an important fibre in home textiles, industrial applications and nonwovens. Today, polyester accounts for over half of global fibre production and its dominance is due largely to its exceptional performance properties. Expansion has been driven by demand for durable, versatile and cost-effective materials, by improvements in manufacturing techniques and by regular innovations. It has also been driven by the rise of the activewear and athleisure markets. In fact, the presence of polyester in these markets has grown exponentially, reflecting a need for performance fabrics which provide comfort, durability and functionality. Looking ahead, the polyester fibre industry is about to see its biggest change in decades with the rapid acceleration of industrial-scale fibre-to-fibre recycling. In the case of mechanical recycling, plants—equipped with Andritz machinery—have recently been inaugurated by Nouvelles Fibres Textiles (NFT) in France and RE&UP in Turkey. However, chemical recycling is expected to have the biggest impact in the years to 2030 and, anticipating this development, several companies are building new capacity and licensing their technologies, including Ambercycle, Carbios, Eastman, Far Eastern New Century (FENC), Loop Industries, Reju and Syre. Together, these technologies should ensure the dominance of polyester fibre for many years to come.