Polyester: Environmental Impacts, Microfibres and Better Material Choices

Why polyester deserves a closer look

Polyester is one of the world’s most widely used textile fibres. It is valued for strength, easy care and low production cost, but its environmental profile deserves careful scrutiny.

A fossil-based fibre

Conventional polyester is produced from petrochemical feedstocks. Its manufacture involves energy-intensive chemical processing, which links the material to fossil-resource use and greenhouse-gas emissions.

Microfibre pollution

During wear and especially washing, polyester textiles can release microscopic synthetic fibres. Research consistently identifies laundry and textile production as important sources of microfibre pollution. The amount released depends on the yarn, fabric construction, garment age, washing programme, detergent and machine type.

These fibres can enter wastewater systems. Treatment plants can capture part of them, but not all emissions are eliminated, which is why prevention at the textile, washing and filtration stages matters.

Durability: a question of the whole garment

It would be misleading to claim that polyester is always less durable than every natural fibre. Garment lifetime depends on fibre quality, yarn and fabric construction, finishing, design, care and how often the item is worn.

What the evidence does show clearly is that extending the useful life of clothing and increasing the number of wears can reduce environmental impacts across fibre types. Durability therefore remains one of the most important criteria when choosing a garment.

What about recycled polyester?

Recycled polyester can reduce demand for virgin fossil feedstocks and, in many life-cycle assessments, lowers some production impacts compared with virgin polyester. It nevertheless remains a plastic-based fibre and can still release synthetic microfibres during use and washing.

Why ERVERTE prioritises natural fibres

ERVERTE Paris chooses to prioritise natural fibres such as cotton, linen and wool to reduce reliance on plastic-based textiles and to favour materials valued for comfort, breathability, moisture management and tactile qualities. Natural fibres are not impact-free, so responsible sourcing, garment quality and long use remain essential.

A more useful way to choose

The strongest environmental strategy is not to replace one slogan with another. It is to consider the complete garment: material origin, manufacturing, durability, care, repairability and how long it will actually be worn.

For ERVERTE, this means favouring natural fibres where they suit the product, producing durable essentials and encouraging customers to buy thoughtfully and wear garments for longer.

Continue exploring: compare virgin and recycled polyester, or discover ERVERTE’s natural-fibre approach.