Recycled PET Is An Excellent Raw Material For Textiles

As the use of PET increases worldwide, experts get worried about the increasing waste and its hazardous effects on the ecological system. Since it remains intact forever (or a long time), it is always advisable to recycle it and use in other industries.  So far, PET has been used successfully in the production of synthetic fabric.  It reduces production cost considerably and keeps the environment clean.

Use of recycled bottles in manufacturing textiles is a way of reusing a chemical that exists in PET bottles. It is called polyethylene Terephthalate that is also the basic ingredient of polyester fabric. Researchers have proved that the use of PET bottles results in the cost-efficient manufacturing of fabric because of less energy requirement. Bottles made from hazardous polycarbonate are not suitable for manufacturing fabrics.

There are two fundamental benefits of the whole process.

Fibres can be produced from the viscous liquid of polyethylene Terephthalate. When the recycled material is used, only half of the energy is needed to reach the desired state.

When plastic junk gets consumed for production of fresh fabric, it is an eco-friendly process reducing solid waste from trenching grounds and landfills.

The process

There are various stages of the process.

Recycle collectors supply piles of bottles to the manufacturing unit. The first step is to separate them based on colour. Workers inspect each bottle to ensure there are no foreign particles/caps/labels.

Sorted bottles go through cleaning and sterilizing process. They move to dry section and then crushed into small chips.

The chips move to the next process i.e. heating and spinning to change their shape and appearance. Chips get converted into fine threads. These threads get converted into smooth strings that move further to crimping machines. These machines change their structure and texture and make them fluffy like wool. These yarns go to the drier section and then pass through quality control tests. Only the best fibres are declared fit for selling.

For coloured fabrics, white yarns move to die section where bleaching and dying process change their appearance. The finished product is ready for dispatch after quality checking.

It is also possible to give different texture and effects to polyester fabrics made from PET bottles. Wool, velvet, corduroy and denim finish are the most popular ones. Special napper machines are used for it where yarns pass through mechanical bristles. These bristles raise the surface of the fabric and shear the raised thread for a realistic effect.

Why recycled fabrics should be preferred?

These fabrics are more eco-friendly than virgin ones because they have fewer energy needs. Also, they are economical and affordable.  According to estimates, still 75% of plastic bottles go to landfills or they contaminate the environment. If more than 90 per cent of them get recycled, there will be the immense benefit for the environment. 

Since these fabrics are cheaper than virgin ones, customers have an added advantage. It is said that a sweater is made from 60 bottles whereas a T-shirt needs 14. Carpets, sleeping bags, tapestry and many other things can be made from this fabric. Companies are doing research for making business suits with this fabric. It will be lightweight, cheap, and maintenance free.

Contact Smart Packages for more information

How Important is Colour in Packaging?

Colour plays a vital role in plastic product packaging. Whether you’re incorporating primary or complementary colours, all colours assist brands in distinguishing product packaging and help it stand out.

Consumers pay close attention to the colours of a brand’s packaging before making their purchasing decisions. Consumers pay close attention to the colours of a brand’s packaging before making their purchasing decisions.

Colour is Essential to Packaging

According to Packaging Digest, colours in product labels and packaging play a huge role in the consumer’s purchasing decisions. Studies show:

• Almost 85% of shoppers say the colour is the primary reason they’ve purchased a certain product.
• 80% of shoppers say colour increased brand recognition.

5 Most Popular Colors Brands Use to Convey Emotion

Colours have been known to evoke emotions. It also has a massive impact on consumers’ perception when it comes to product packaging. In fact, there are six colours, which have been identified as being critical in purchase decisions, according to an article by Inc.

colour swatches Colors evoke various emotions and moods that affect consumers’ purchase decisions when shopping.

1. Blue represents sincerity, cheer, and honesty.
2. Red represents new, daring, exciting, and contemporary.
3. Green represents fresh, imaginative, and communicates eco-friendly or organic as well.
4. Purple represents unique, out of the box, edgy, yet dependable, and high-end.
5. Orange & Yellow represents rugged, strong, cheerful, and optimistic.

4 Colour Trends in Packaging

While other factors, such as brand recognition and product quality, play a part in purchasing decisions, colour is still one of the most important aesthetic features to consider.

Here are four popular colour trends in the product packaging industry.

1. Pastels gained significant popularity in 2018. These colours are soothing and create a sense of calmness in consumers.
2. Colour Gradients are very popular. Everywhere you turn, you’ll be able to find colour gradients – even when you’re watching a sunrise or sunset. The colour transition of colour gradients stimulates moods like calm, peace, or even excitement.
3. Green – the word and the colour – takes on multiple meanings. While the word represents environmental friendliness, the actual colour is the indicator of its impact on the environment and the sourcing of the packaging materials. The market for environmentally friendly products is constantly growing and usually incorporates green in the packaging.
4. Colours Are Linked to Flavors, which might not be a huge surprise. Linking colours and flavours have been a common association for quite some time. For example, linking yellow to lemon flavour and red to cherry flavour creates a quick recognition of foods. Manufacturers use this method to influence split-second purchasing decisions and to drive sales.

Consumers can already tell a juice and carbonated beverages’ flavour by its colour. Consumers can already tell a juice and carbonated beverages’ flavour by its colour.

Upcoming Color Trends

The Global Cosmetic Industry predicts the top colours for the 2020 Spring and Summer seasons. Colours are beginning to reflect what attracts millennial and Gen Z consumers, who are steadily gaining more purchasing power. These consumers are interested in self-expression, quirky influences, and bold visual aspects. The forecasted trends are:

• Muted Tones
• Bright citrus hues
• Earthy reds
• Clinical influences

Interested in Making Your Product’s Brand Colors Pop?

Since colour plays such a big role in the consumer purchase decision, manufacturers can’t afford to overlook this detail.

Smart Packaging is here to become your complete packaging solutions provider. Let our knowledgeable packaging solutions specialists assist you by providing colour insights and design direction on your product packaging.

Contact Smart Packaging today.