rPET vs. Cotton Cloth: Comparing the Environmental Footprint

A cotton T-shirt requires around 2,000 litres of water on average, mostly for irrigation during cultivation. On top of that comes the use of pesticides, which, according to VerbraucherService Bayern, are 'generally concerning'.

rPET requires neither farmland nor significant amounts of water in production. But even as a recycled material, it remains a petroleum-based synthetic fibre that, unlike natural fibres, doesn't biodegrade.

Germany's Federal Environment Agency (UBA) points out that a long-lasting polyester product used for many years can ultimately perform better than a cotton product discarded after only a few uses. What matters, according to this view, isn't just the fibre type, but how long a product actually stays in use.

Neither rPET nor cotton is superior in every respect. rPET avoids water consumption and pesticides, but sheds microplastic (see Microplastics and textiles: is rPET really the better choice?). Cotton is biodegradable, but has a resource-intensive growing phase.