Polyester
Polyester is a general term for all materials made from polyester yarn. These include, for example, fleece or neoprene.
Polyester has the advantage that it is even finer than natural fibers and can therefore easily be made into water-repellent garments.
But how eco-friendly is polyester really?
Sad, but true: it has a very poor ecological balance. That’s because washing it causes microplastics to dissolve from the synthetic fibers, which, as we learned earlier, is harmful to both humans and animals.
Polyester recycling, however, is the most advanced.
elastane
What about the elasticity of our sportswear? The elastane is responsible for that. But did you know that elastane is a chemical fiber and has absolutely nothing to do with being natural?
It must be made of at least 85 percent polyurethane, according to the EU Textile Labeling Regulation. Polyurethane is a material that is extracted from crude oil and natural gas. This involves a huge amount of energy and the substances produced in the process are problematic for the environment. Also, like most synthetic fibers, elastane can’t really be recycled.
Source: news.google.com