Sustainability trends show mixed results for recycled polyester and textile sourcing

A new lifecycle assessment by Textile Exchange and SCS Consulting Services indicates that recycled polyester may not fully resolve the fashion industry’s waste and climate crises. The report highlights that thermomechanical recycling, which involves melting down plastic, often results in higher carbon dioxide emissions than chemical recycling. Furthermore, because approximately 98% of recycled polyester is derived from post-consumer bottles, the process does not significantly reduce textile-specific waste. Emissions are also heavily influenced by the distance materials must be transported to processing plants.

In corporate application, Gap Inc. reported reaching 100% sustainable cotton sourcing and 65% recycled polyester use in its fiscal 2025 Impact Report. While the company exceeded its recycled polyester target of 45%, its progress in other areas was mixed. Gap reported a 20% decrease in Scope 3 emissions from purchased goods since 2017, but renewable electricity use fell to 46%, trailing its 2030 goal. To improve traceability, Gap intends to increase its use of U.S.-grown cotton via the TextileGenesis platform and has expressed intent to use polyester produced by Syre, which utilizes recycled textiles rather than virgin oil-based inputs.