A group of companies led by a textile producer is getting set to make dress shirts out of recycled plastic (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles. Until now, recycled plastic bottles have been used only in carpet manufacturing and a few other industries, but recent advances in technology have made it possible to transform the ubiquitous receptacles into fabric for shirts, and in the near future the group plans to use the same process to make bedding and underwear. As an example of the efficient reuse of natural resources and of sound environmental policy, the joint venture has attracted the attention of other producers and industries.
Manufacturers and retailers join forces
The group's plans call for the textile producer to collect plastic bottles from municipalities around the country and to use them in the production of recycled polyester fibers. A spinning company will turn these fibers into fabric, which will then be used by an apparel manufacturer to make finished shirts. The shirts will be distributed through a number of retailers affiliated with the group, among them supermarkets and a number of stores operated by consumer cooperatives.
The fabric from which the shirts are sewn is 25% recycled polyester, 25% new polyester, and 50% cotton. Given this blend, the amount of polyester that can be recycled from a 1.5-liter plastic bottle corresponds almost exactly to the requirement for one shirt. The group is planning to eventually use recycled polyester for all of the non-cotton portion of the fabric.
The shirts will arrive in stores in March 1996. They will cost about 10% more to make than comparable shirts that use new polyester because of the additional expense of collecting plastic bottles. However, manufacturers and retailers have agreed to absorb this cost, so the recycled shirts will be priced competitively.
Recycling to take off in 1997
At present, the principal difficulty with reusing plastic bottles to make shirts or other items is securing a steady supply of used bottles. Although Japanese consumers purchase some 3 billion plastic bottles annually, fewer than 1% of these are collected for recycling. Most are disposed of as trash by burning.
A law was enacted this year, however, that will gradually require companies that make products that come in bottles, cans, and bags-as well as the manufacturers of such packaging and receptacles-to implement recycling measures. The law will take effect beginning in fiscal 1997 (April 1997 - March 1998). It has been projected, therefore, that the number of plastic bottles that are recovered will increase markedly in the future, a trend upon which the members of the polyester recycling scheme are placing their bets.
(The above article, edited by Japan Echo Inc., is based on domestic Japanese news sources. It is offered for reference purposes and does not necessarily represent the policy or views of the Japanese Government.)