Recycled Sustainable Fabric

Overview

Recycled Sustainable Fabric is a category of technical textiles engineered from post-consumer and post-industrial waste, primarily recycled PET (rPET) sourced from plastic bottles, along with reclaimed polyester and regenerated nylon fibers. The fabrics are produced through mechanical and chemical recycling processes that convert waste into staple fiber or filament yarn, which is then woven or knitted into performance-grade textiles. Construction methods include plain weave, twill, ripstop, jersey knit, and interlock, with optional functional finishes such as DWR (durable water repellent), moisture-wicking treatments, and PU/TPU lamination.

Key Properties & Specifications

• Fabric weight: 75gsm to 320gsm, with lightweight linings at 75-110gsm and heavyweight outdoor grades at 250-320gsm
• Fiber composition: 50% to 100% recycled content, with standard GRS-certified constructions at 100% rPET or blends such as 85% rPET / 15% spandex for stretch applications
• Tensile strength: 350-750 N (warp) and 300-650 N (weft), depending on weave density and yarn denier
• Tear strength: 18-45 N, with ripstop constructions reaching the upper range
• Water column (hydrostatic head): 3,000mm to 15,000mm depending on coating; standard DWR grades at 3,000-5,000mm, laminated waterproof grades at 10,000-15,000mm
• Breathability (MVTR): 3,000 to 8,000 g/m²/24h, with membrane-laminated performance fabrics reaching 8,000 g/m²/24h
• UPF rating: UPF 30 to UPF 50+, blocking 95-98% of UV radiation on tightly woven and dark-shade constructions
• Shrinkage: less than 3% in both warp and weft after washing at 40°C
• Colorfastness: Grade 4-5 to washing, Grade 4 to rubbing (dry) and Grade 3-4 (wet), Grade 4-5 to light per ISO standards
• Operating temperature range: -30°C to 70°C without loss of structural integrity or coating adhesion
• Fabric width: 150cm standard, with 137cm and 160cm available on request

Popular Products

Recycled Polyester Fabric is the foundational offering in this category, produced from 100% rPET filament yarn in weights from 100gsm to 300gsm. It serves as a versatile base fabric for apparel, bags, and general-purpose applications where standard recycled content and consistent hand-feel are required.

RPET Sports Fabric is a knit construction optimized for athletic wear, typically an 85% rPET / 15% spandex interlock or jersey at 180-220gsm. It combines four-way stretch with moisture-wicking performance, making it suitable for compression and high-movement garments.

Sustainable Activewear Fabric is engineered for gym, yoga, and training apparel, offering a soft brushed or matte finish at 200-260gsm. Its distinguishing feature is a balance of opacity (squat-proof density) and breathability, along with quick-dry treatment for repeated wash cycles.

Eco Friendly Outdoor Fabric is a woven ripstop or twill designed for exposure to the elements, available in weights from 200gsm to 320gsm with DWR and optional PU coating. It provides a hydrostatic head up to 15,000mm and abrasion resistance suited to jackets, tents, and gear.

GRS Certified Recycled Fabric carries full Global Recycled Standard certification, guaranteeing verified recycled content, chain-of-custody documentation, and compliance with social and environmental criteria. It is the preferred option for buyers requiring auditable sustainability claims for retail and regulatory purposes.

Recycled Performance Fabric integrates functional membranes and technical finishes onto a recycled base, delivering waterproof-breathable performance with MVTR up to 8,000 g/m²/24h. It targets premium outdoor and technical apparel where both sustainability and high functional specifications are mandatory.

Applications

Activewear and sportswear manufacturing, where RPET Sports Fabric and Sustainable Activewear Fabric supply the stretch, breathability, and moisture management needed for leggings, sports bras, training tops, and compression garments produced at scale.

Outdoor and technical apparel, including softshell and hardshell jackets, windbreakers, and hiking wear, where Eco Friendly Outdoor Fabric and Recycled Performance Fabric provide waterproofing, wind resistance, and durability for exposure conditions.

Bags, backpacks, and accessories, where heavier woven recycled polyester at 250-320gsm offers the abrasion resistance and structural stability required for daypacks, totes, and luggage panels.

Fashion and everyday apparel, where Recycled Polyester Fabric and GRS Certified Recycled Fabric enable brands to convert existing product lines to certified recycled content without compromising drape, print quality, or color range.

Corporate and promotional uniforms, where consistent supply, verified GRS documentation, and colorfast performance support large institutional and B2B orders requiring sustainability compliance.

Home and lifestyle textiles, including cushion covers, upholstery accents, and lightweight furnishing applications where durable, colorfast recycled fabric meets both aesthetic and environmental sourcing requirements.

Customization & Wholesale

Minimum order quantity is 500m per color per specification for stock-base fabrics, and 1,000m per color for custom-developed constructions or specialty coatings. Sample yardage of 3-5m is available for pre-production approval, and hanger or swatch samples are provided free on request with freight collect.

Custom widths are available at 137cm, 150cm, and 160cm, with 150cm as the standard production width. Color matching is offered against Pantone TPX/TCX references, with dye-lot tolerance controlled to Grade 4 colorfastness minimum. Custom color development requires a minimum of 500m per shade and includes a lab-dip approval cycle of 7-10 days.

Printing options include sublimation printing for polyester knits, digital printing for short-run and complex designs, and rotary/screen printing for high-volume repeat patterns. Sublimation and digital printing carry no additional plate cost, while rotary printing requires screen setup with an MOQ of 1,000m per design.

Functional finishing can be specified per order, including DWR water repellency, anti-microbial treatment, moisture-wicking, UV protection to UPF 50+, PU/TPU lamination for waterproofing, and brushed or peached hand-feel finishes. Weight, stretch percentage, and recycled content ratio can be adjusted within category ranges to meet target specifications.

OEM and ODM services are available. OEM covers production to buyer-supplied specifications, tech packs, and private-label requirements. ODM includes in-house development of new constructions, finish combinations, and fabric engineering to a functional brief, with development timelines of 3-4 weeks for new qualities.

Standard lead time is 15-25 days for stock-base fabrics and 30-45 days for fully custom developments, calculated from order confirmation and deposit receipt. Production capacity supports orders from 500m up to 100,000m+ per month, with capacity allocation confirmed at order stage for large recurring programs.

Certification support includes GRS (Global Recycled Standard), OEKO-TEX Standard 100, and RCS (Recycled Claim Standard) documentation, with transaction certificates issued per shipment on request. Chain-of-custody records are maintained for buyers requiring auditable recycled-content verification.

Export capabilities cover global shipment under FOB, CIF, and DDP Incoterms from major Chinese ports including Shanghai, Ningbo, and Shenzhen. Payment terms are T/T with 30% deposit and 70% balance against shipping documents, or irrevocable L/C at sight for qualified orders. Packaging is standard roll packing in waterproof film with inner tube support, and export cartons or pallet configurations are available for consolidated and container shipments.