Recycled fabric

	Ecomax blends recycled PET fiber with bamboo charcoal fiber, such as on model 2GNI043-00-1.

Information campaigns on the production and uses of the textile aim to spur orders despite price sensitivity.

Suppliers of recycled PET fabrics in Taiwan are implementing various marketing strategies to generate interest in the line.

High prices have been hindering buyers from using the material for garments and fashion accessories. Quotes for recycled PET textiles can be more than double that of regular polyester. Despite heightened environmental awareness, the adoption of expensive eco-friendly alternatives has taken a backseat to beefing up profit margins since economic challenges started to plague retailers in late 2008.

In addition, some clients have the misconception that because the product is salvaged from waste material, it should be less costly than those derived from virgin sources. The truth, however, is that the manufacturing process is more complex and resource-intensive.

To help potential customers appreciate the method and convince them to place an order, Ecomax Textile Co. Ltd, an exporter interviewed for this report, offers tours of its vertically integrated factory. The maker has workshops for cleaning PET bottles, breaking them down into small pieces, melting the fragments, yarn extrusion, and weaving and knitting. It even manages the collection of containers.

Moreover, companies are demonstrating the versatility of recycled PET in various applications such as jackets, shirts, bags, hats and cleaning cloths. They keep a collection of these downstream goods to show buyers. Apart from filaments, the material can also be turned into staple fibers that can mimic the feel of cotton. While it is slightly resistant in dye uptake, makers have partnered with coloring specialists that are able to provide precise matches with buyer requirements.

Although sales are not yet picking up, mills begin production only when a contract is signed. This is to prevent excess inventory. Meanwhile, they are relying on government incentives to keep business going. Taiwan's Environmental Protection Agency offers financial incentives to recycling enterprises. It also declared the mandatory reuse of postconsumer packaging, so the supply is steady. The Taiwan Textile Research Institute estimates that 100,000 tons of PET bottles were reprocessed in 2008.

There are about 12 manufacturers of recycled PET fabrics in Taiwan, but according to the TTRI, about 40 enterprises intend to enter the line in coming months. Apart from vertically integrated operations, some factories source extruded yarn, mostly from Japan, and perform weaving or knitting in-house.

Models are in pure or blended forms, with a density between 75 and 1200d. Prices start at $1.50 per yard and may exceed $6. The majority of models from the island are about $3.