Ioakimidis Textiles invites you to indulge in the grand world of fabrics in… their greener version!
In our collection, we introduce recycled polyester, one of the latest trends in sustainable fabrics, which has the same technical characteristics as other polyester fibers but has come as the environmentally conscious alter ego of the conventional polyester.
Polyester is a popular synthetic fiber that was first patented in 1941 and has been widely used since, as it is a highly strong and durable material, easy to care for, it does not absorb moisture and dries fast after washing, all of which are huge pros from a consumer perspective. Moreover, it is resistant to abrasion, and retains its shape, making it an ideal choice for outdoor clothing.
Following the global contemporary ‘’green’’ turn and recognizing polyester’s valuable characteristics, there was a need for a more environmentally- friendly version of it, based on renewable resources. Since it was found that polyester can be recycled numerous times into a material of equal quality to that of the virgin fiber, recycled polyester was introduced into fashion life.
Global Recycled Standard (GRS)
Ioakimidis Textiles’ fabrics follow global textile product standards defining the conditions that ensure the quality, the biology of the raw materials as well as the socially responsible manufacturing process.
All the standards our company follows, provide us with means to verify the relevant sustainability claims at all stages, ensuring that we meet the evolving needs of our industry. Among these standards, we find the Global Recycled Standard (GRS).
GRS is an international, voluntary, full product standard, setting requirements for third-party certification verifying the content of recycled materials in a product, chain of custody, social and environmental practices, and chemical restrictions.
Certifications are one of the strongest ways to ensure the integrity of sustainability claims since the verifications are made by an organization outside the product’s business cycle.
The aim of this certificate is to increase use of recycled materials in products and minimize/eliminate the harm caused by their production. The objectives of GRS are: alignment of definitions across multiple applications, track and trace recycled input materials, provide customers (both brands and consumers) with a tool to make informed decisions, reduce harmful impact of production to people and the environment, provide assurance that materials in the final product are recycled and processed more sustainably, drive innovation in addressing quality issues in the use of recycled materials.
For a product to qualify for this certificate it must contain at least 20% recycled materials with each stage of production required to be certified. Chemicals that potentially could harm are banned from GRS products. The standard is valid for the complete supply chain confirming chemical restrictions, environmental principles, social requirements and labeling in a company’s production line.
Through this process the recycled content of the products is verified and driven in higher percentages of usage, customers are provided with a tool to make informed decisions, there is a significant reduction in the harmful impact of production to people and the environment and there is reassurance of the product’s actual sustainability.
Apart from the environmental aspect, GRS has social requirements as well addressing issues such as: social policies, record-keeping, forced labor, child labor, freedom of association, discrimination, harassment and abuse, health and safety, wages and benefits, terms of employment and working hours.
With GRS, companies essentially reaffirm by an independent third-party their commitment to harmless materials and support a circular economy that minimizes environmental impact and reduces waste by using such materials to create new products.
Ioakimidis Textiles is one of the few companies that have been successfully certified with Global Recycled Standard (GRS) for recycled polyester thus validating the integrity of sustainability claims but above all ensuring the developments leading to real and meaningful change for the environment and the world overall.
Recycled polyester pros
Recycled polyester’s benefits bring the fashion industry one more step closer to sustainable clothing. It is producedfrom synthetic fibers but instead of utilizing new materials it makes use of existing plastic, consequently it contributes to the cutback of petroleum extraction, reduction of energy consumption, decrease in water usage during production while ensuring a longer life cycle of the garment.
The recycling of polyester is achieved either through a mechanical or a chemical process. The mechanical process turns plastic bottles’ waste, into a polyester chip prepping it to then go through the traditional fiber making process. On the other hand, the chemical process entails breaking down of the plastic molecules and reforming them into yarn. This recycling process can be repeated more than once, thus reducing the consumers’ environmental footprint by converting old garments into fibers instead of disposing of them.
The conventional polyester fiber possesses essential properties for modern clothing and fashion. Recycled polyester and recycled fabrics overall allow us to create quality and consumer-friendly garments, refraining from the use of unsustainable resources.
Ioakimidis Textiles is actively contributing to this global shift to more ecological and sustainable textiles. In this ever-changing world of rapidly consumed fashion the company strives to help apparel brands in their quest to combine the making of fashion with respect to the people and the environment.
GRS is a certification recognized internationally and consumers are strongly advised to look for it before purchasing clothing stated to be made of recycled materials. Through this certification one can be reassured that the product does actually contain verified recycled and sustainably produced fibers.
