Take a moment and check the label on the shirt you’re wearing. What is it made of?
If you’re like most people, there’s a good chance you’ll find polyester listed on the tag. In fact, according to EarthDay.org, synthetic fibres such as polyester now make up around 70% of all clothing produced worldwide. What was once a niche material has become the dominant fabric in our wardrobes. But how did polyester become so ubiquitous? And what does that mean for our health, our clothes, and the planet?
What Is Polyester?
Polyester is a synthetic fibre made from petroleum, the same fossil fuel used to produce many plastics. Unlike natural fibres such as cotton, linen, wool, or hemp, polyester does not occur in nature. It is engineered in factories through a chemical process that transforms oil into textile fibres.
The result is a material that is durable, lightweight, and inexpensive to manufacture. These qualities have made polyester one of the fashion industry’s favourite fabrics.
Why Is Polyester in Almost Everything?
The rise of polyester is closely tied to the growth of fast fashion. For brands, polyester offers several advantages. It is relatively cheap to produce, easy to dye, resistant to wrinkles, and can be blended with other fibres to create a wide range of textures and finishes. For consumers, polyester garments are often affordable and easy to care for, requiring less ironing and special washing than many natural fibres.
In an industry driven by speed, low prices, and rapidly changing trends, polyester has become the perfect material. It allows brands to produce large volumes of clothing quickly while keeping costs low. Unfortunately, convenience comes with hidden costs.
The Hidden Problems with Polyester
At first glance, polyester seems like a practical solution. It is affordable, durable, and widely available. Yet its impact extends far beyond our wardrobes.
1. A Question of Comfort and Health
Unlike natural fibres, polyester is not particularly breathable. It tends to trap heat and moisture against the skin, which can cause discomfort, irritation, and, in some cases, contribute to bacterial growth. Some polyester garments are also treated with PFAS, often referred to as “forever chemicals”, to make them stain-resistant or water-repellent. These chemicals persist in the environment and have been linked to a range of health concerns, including hormone disruption and increased risks of certain diseases.
2. A Fossil Fuel-Based Fabric
Polyester’s environmental footprint begins long before a garment reaches a store shelf. Because polyester is derived from petroleum, its production depends on the extraction and processing of fossil fuels. Manufacturing polyester requires significant amounts of energy and generates greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. Unlike natural fibres, polyester is not biodegradable. A polyester garment discarded today may remain in landfills for decades or even centuries. According to sustainability platform Good On You, polyester clothing can take anywhere from 20 to 200 years to decompose.
3. The Microplastic Problem
Perhaps the most concerning consequence of polyester is something we rarely see. Every time a polyester garment is washed, tiny plastic fibres break away and enter wastewater systems. Many of these microplastics are too small to be fully filtered out during treatment and eventually make their way into rivers, oceans, soil, and even drinking water. Researchers now consider synthetic textiles to be one of the largest sources of microplastic pollution worldwide. These microscopic particles have been found throughout marine ecosystems and increasingly within the human body, raising concerns about their long-term impacts on both environmental and human health.
What Can We Do?
The solution is not to throw away every polyester garment you own. Extending the life of clothing is often more sustainable than replacing it. Instead, consider taking a few practical steps:
- Wear garments multiple times before washing them when appropriate. Fewer wash cycles mean fewer microplastics released into waterways.
- Use washing solutions designed to capture microfibres, such as laundry filters or wash bags like GUPPYFRIEND.
- When purchasing new clothing, explore natural fibre alternatives such as linen, organic cotton, hemp, or responsibly sourced wool.
- Most importantly, buy less and wear more. The most sustainable garment is often the one already hanging in your closet. Take a fashion detox.
The Bigger Picture
Polyester’s dominance in fashion is not accidental. It is the product of an industry built around speed, scale, and low prices. Yet as consumers become more aware of the environmental and health implications of synthetic fabrics, we have an opportunity to rethink our relationship with clothing.
Understanding what our clothes are made of is a small but powerful step toward building a more sustainable fashion system. Every purchase, every repair, every outfit repeated is a reminder that fashion can serve both people and the planet.
