What is Ecospun?
Ecospun is a polyester fiber made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. It can be used to create various fabrics, including fleece fabrics. The Ecospun fiber can be used by itself, or it can be blended with other fibers such as cotton, wool, and tencel.
Environmental Benefits of Ecospun
Ecospun enables billions of plastic containers to be recycled each year, instead of them being buried in landfill.
Currently, less than 30% of plastic bottles produced in the US are recycled. Given the fact that over 40 billion plastic bottles are produced in the US each year, this is a huge environmental problem. Furthermore, it takes over 700 years for each of these plastic containers to decompose!
What is Ecospun used for?
Ecospun, whether by itself or blended, can be used in many products. Here are some examples:
- clothing (eg, vests, jackets, pants)
- blankets
- carpets
- wall coverings
- automobile interiors
- various home furnishings
- fiberfill (eg, filling material for cushions)
- craft felt
So chances are, thousands people around the world are wearing recycled plastic don’t even realize it!
How is Ecospun Made?
Here’s how the Ecospun process goes:
- Plastic containers are collected from curbside and community recycling centers
- The containers are sorted by type and color
- All labels and caps are stripped off
- The plastic containers are then washed
- Then they’re crushed
- Then they’re chopped into flake
- The flakes are then melted and extruded to create fiber
- The fiber is crimped, cut, drawn, then stretched into the desired length (based on its strength), then baled.
Fortrel® Ecospun™ is a registered trademark of Wellman Inc, and is manufactured by Foss Manufacturing Company.
Tags: eco-friendly clothes, ecospun, PET, plastic bottles, Sustainability
January 27th, 2008 at 8:02 am
[...] fibers made from recycled plastic containers (such as Fortrel Ecospun) are often referred to as recycled polyester too. However, in this article, I’m referring to [...]
October 14th, 2008 at 12:44 am
could you provide more advantages of the ecospun fibre! i am doing a school assessment task and need some more impacts inwhich the fibre has on society community and evironment!
thanks
laura C
October 14th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
The fact that plastic containers are recycled means that it helps to eliminate plastic from landfills and general litter. Our oceans are becoming increasingly littered with plastic.
Here’s more on the environmental impact of plastic bags on our oceans:
http://www.natural-environment.com/blog/2008/04/08/impact-of-plastic-on-our-oceans/
Also, using recycled plastic containers means that they can reduce/eliminate oil usage.
Here’s what Wellman (the company that developed Ecospun) have to say about the benefits of Ecospun:
“Wellman has the capacity to keep almost 3 billion plastic PET soda bottles out of the world’s landfills each year, saving over 1/2 million barrels of oil and eliminating 400,000 tons of harmful air emissions which contribute to acid rain, global warming and smog. The amount of petroleum saved by using post-consumer bottles instead of virgin materials in the manufacturing process annually is enough to supply power to a city the size of Atlanta for an entire year!”
Good luck with the assessment!
February 5th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
How can I find pillow inserts made with eco-spun? Wholesale?
March 5th, 2009 at 3:06 am
Where can I buy Ecospun fiberfill batting wholesale? I make pet beds. Thank you. Leslie
May 7th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Hi I live in Okotoks Alberta. Have been trying to buy your 12ft Ecospun
outside carpet for our deck. Could only find the 6 by 8, and no one could help us.
If you can it would be appreciated.
Thank you Kathy Cross
August 14th, 2010 at 7:54 pm
Great post! Maybe you could do a follow up on this topic?