Fabrics & GSM · Hoodie Encyclopedia
Recycled Poly-Cotton Fleece
Recycled fleece blends rPET yarn (from post-consumer PET bottles) with recycled or organic cotton. It sits closer in cost to conventional fleece than pure organic, and it lets a brand carry a certified sustainability claim without absorbing the full organic-cotton premium.
rPET yarn
Post-consumer PET bottles are washed, flaked, melted and extruded into a filament yarn chemically identical to virgin polyester. rPET saves roughly 60% CO₂ and 70% water vs virgin PET. The finished fleece feels indistinguishable from conventional poly-cotton at the same GSM.
Recycled cotton
Recycled cotton comes from pre-consumer textile cutting waste (industrial recycling) or post-consumer garments (mechanical recycling). Fibre length is shorter after recycling, so recycled cotton is almost always blended — pure 100% recycled cotton pills heavily. 20–40% recycled cotton in a rPET blend is the streetwear sweet-spot.
Certifications
| Certification | Scope | Minimum content |
|---|---|---|
| GRS (Global Recycled Standard) | Full chain: fibre + social + environmental | 20% recycled |
| RCS (Recycled Claim Standard) | Fibre origin only | 5% recycled |
| OEKO-TEX Standard 100 | Chemical safety, complementary | n/a |
GRS is what most European retailers ask for — it covers the environmental and social conditions of the recycler too, not just fibre content.
Cost & MOQ
rPET yarn costs ~15% more than virgin poly at the yarn level, which dilutes to a 6–10% garment FOB delta. Recycled cotton is usually neutral to marginally cheaper because it's a waste stream. MOQs run ~500 pcs per colour; GRS-certified yarn availability is the bigger constraint, not fabric MOQ.
Common pitfalls
- Colour matching — recycled cotton has a slight grey undertone that shifts Pantone matches. Always re-lab-dip.
- GRS transaction certificate missing — no TC = no proof at customs. Chase this at PO stage.
- Non-certified trims — a recycled hoodie with a virgin-poly drawcord can't carry a full GRS claim.
- Overclaiming — recycled cotton content sub 20% doesn't qualify for GRS; use RCS or drop the certification claim.
Building a GRS-certified hoodie?
We'll source rPET blend fabric and press a certified proto in 4 weeks.