Fabric
Polyester
Petrochemical plants in Gujarat, China and Taiwan
Impact score
41/ 100
High Impact
A blended indicator of water, carbon, chemical load, durability and recyclability.
Measured impact per kg of fibre
Water footprint60 L / kg
Carbon footprint9.5 kg CO₂e / kg
Process energy125 MJ / kg
Microfibre sheddingHigh shedding
BiodegradableNo
Durability8 years typical wear
Recyclability55 / 100
Data confidence
highHigh confidence — multiple peer-reviewed or industry datasets agree
Sources: Textile Exchange PFMB 2023 · Higg MSI 2023
Figures are cradle-to-gate averages per kilogram of fibre or fabric, not measurements of your specific garment. A typical adult shirt weighs roughly 0.2 kg.
Qualitative ratings
Water useLow
Carbon footprintHigh
Chemical loadModerate
DurabilityHigh
RecyclabilityModerate
What is it
A plastic fibre polymerised from crude-oil derivatives; over half of all textiles today.
Why it matters
Cheap and tough, but fossil-derived, non-biodegradable and a major microfibre source in Indian rivers.
Water Carbon Chemicals End of life
What you can do
Wash in a filter bag, wash less often, and keep it in use for many years.