Polyester is one of the most popular fabrics in the world. Made from PET plastic, it is prized for its durability, lightness, and low cost of production. While these characteristics make it ideal for various uses across the textile industry, the oversupply of polyester has also fueled an environmental disaster. Now, brands like Adidas, Nike, and Shein are trying to increase the amount of polyester made from recycled plastics -- but is this the best use of old plastic? We visited Tamil Nadu, India, to see how one company makes clothing from used plastic bottles and whether this is the best solution for this waste stream.
00:00 - Intro
00:50 - Meet The Founders
01:20 - Collecting Plastic Bottles
01:56 - Sorting Plastic Bottles
03:06 - Secondary Sorting And Hot Washing
04:01 - Molecular Structure And Applications Of Pet
04:22 - Melting, Dope Dyeing, And Stretching Pet Fibers
05:33 - Drawing, Crimping, And Baling Fibers
06:42 - Turning Fibers Into Yarn
08:16 - Historic Use And Demand For ...