Polyester and polyamide are artificial fibres that come from fossil oil and have qualities such as long durability. After cotton, polyamide and polyester are the most common materials in our assortment. Since polyester and polyamide are oil-based and manufactured from non-renewable sources, we are working to expand the use of recycled polyester and polyamide. This allows us to reduce the pressure on natural resources and climate impact.
The most common raw material source for recycled polyester is old PET bottles. Together with one of our suppliers, UNIFI, Lindex has transformed 16 million PET bottles into new garments. By recycling plastic bottles, we give them new life instead of them ending up in the nature or in landfills. We use recycled polyester in, for example, pants, dresses and blouses.
Recycled polyamide is mainly used in our lingerie, tights and swimwear. The raw material is mainly from waste of the manufacturing industry.
Polyester and polyamide are durable materials with a long lifetime. Often other materials are mixed up with polyester to maintain the color and fit better. Another good feature is that polyester clothes usually doesn´t need ironing, which is an advantage for you who may not want to spend a lot of time on taking care of your clothes.
A major challenge with polyester and polyamide is that oil must be extracted to produce them, which contributes to global warming. This is why we at Lindex work actively to increase the use of recycled polyester and polyamide, as we then extend the life of already produced materials while reducing the impact on the climate.
One part of our sustainability promise is that we want to prolong the lifetime of our products and use resources in the smartest way possible throughout our operations. One of the goals in this area is that by 2025, 100 per cent of Lindex materials will be recycled or sustainably sourced.
Another major challenge with these synthetic fibres is that polyester and polyamide garments, when washed, release microplastics, which are so small that they pass through treatment plants and instead end up in our seas and other watercourses. They are eaten by zooplankton, which are eaten by fish and eventually the microplastics migrate up the food chain to ourselves. Microplastics not only come from polyester and polyamide garments, but from all plastics that get into water. That is why it is so important that we, among other things, recycle PET bottles.
The research on microplastics, both on the consequences it has on humans and the environment as well as how we can prevent emissions, is still new. More research is needed to enable us to implement the most effective measures possible. One thing we are doing right now is to offer our customers a laundry bag from Guppyfriends that will prevent microplastics from being released during washing.