Recycled polyester

To offer technical fabrics and membranes while minimising the environmental impact of their production and use, AYAQ has chosen to eco-design many pieces in its collections using recycled polyester. 

There are many advantages to this choice.

Polyester is a synthetic fibre with many valuable properties: it offers good abrasion resistance, absorbs little moisture and allows water and vapour to escape efficiently, making it possible to create highly breathable, technical fabrics.

This fibre dries quickly and has good resistance to sunlight. It does not rot, making it durable over time. 

BUT

Polyester is a synthetic, plastic-based fibre made from petroleum, the base component in its production. With finite reserves on Earth, petroleum is not a renewable raw material, and its extraction causes significant pollution at many stages of the extraction and transport chain.  

There is, however, a more responsible and sustainable alternative: recycled polyester.

In its collections, AYAQ therefore uses polyester recycled from post-consumer plastic bottles in the vast majority of cases. This gives a second life to a material that is not biodegradable.  

The technical properties of the recycled material are similar to those of virgin polyester, but producing recycled polyester requires far fewer resources and much less energy. No additional crude oil extraction is needed, CO2 emissions during the recycling process are far lower than those generated by virgin polyester production, and giving the material a second life helps reduce the amount of plastic waste ending up in landfill and soil. 

Chemical or mechanical?

There are two ways to make recycled polyester: mechanically or chemically.

AYAQ has chosen to use mechanically recycled polyester : the bottles are first sorted, then shredded into flakes, which are melted down (without using chemicals) to make pellets. These pellets are then heated and processed using high-precision machinery to produce yarn.  

Chemical recycling is a faster technique, but it uses many chemicals that are harmful to the environment. 

At AYAQ, we have decided not to use chemically recycled polyester. Mechanical recycling requires far fewer resources and much less energy than producing virgin or chemically recycled polyester. 

NewLife™ yarn, used in most of our products, guarantees the same level of performance and quality as virgin yarn. Thanks to its unique production process, NewLife™ contributes to a significant reduction in the CO2 emissions (-32%) that drive global warming, while also delivering water (-94%) and energy (-64%) savings.  

The main environmental drawback of polyester and recycled polyester: plastic microfibres. 

Like all polyesters and other petroleum-based fibres, recycled polyester sheds plastic microfibres. This happens mainly during washing, when these microparticles are released into washing machine wastewater and can potentially find their way into downstream waterways, and ultimately into the natural environment. 

To address this issue, AYAQ has chosen to use recycled polyester only when it brings genuine added value to a garment's technical performance and durability. 

To help prevent microfibres from escaping during washing, AYAQ recommends using a special washing bag, also known as a “Guppyfriend”. By washing your garments made from polyester (or recycled polyester or other petroleum-based fibres) inside this bag, specifically developed to capture plastic microparticles, you will limit the friction that can cause pilling and reduce the release of microfibres into the environment. A positive step for the planet and your clothing!