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In 2017, Textile Exchange’s Recycled Polyester (rPET) Round Table created an rPET Commitment to encourage brands and retailers to publicly commit to accelerating their use of recycled polyester by 25% by 2020. 59 renowned textile, apparel and retail companies—including major brands such as adidas, Dibella, Eileen Fisher, Gap Inc., H&M, IKEA, Lindex, MetaWear, Target and Timberland—committed to or are supporting an increase in their use of rPET by at least 25% by 2020.

We are delighted to report that the aggregate target was reached two years early, in 2018, when the combined rPET use of the commitment signatories grew by 36%.

Progress towards the commitment was tracked via participation in the Polyester module of Textile Exchange’s annual Corporate Fiber & Materials Benchmark. 2017 was used as the baseline, at which point participant rPET usage was 47,407 mt. A 25% increase by 2020 (which has already been exceeded) was set to provide the following benefits:

2,868,000,000 bottles diverted from landfill.
35,329,509 kg reduction in human toxicity.
1,849,464 MJ saved on primary energy demand.
122,823 kg reduced Co2.

The companies/organizations that participated in the commitment are listed below. They span the entire value chain, including brands, retailers, suppliers and associated industry organizations.

GreenBlue
H&M
Haiyan Haili Green Fiber
Hallotex S.L.
Hussain Mills Limited
IKEA
Indigenous Designs
ITC Accessories
ITOCHU
Japan Organic Cotton Association/JOCA
KALANI S.A.
Kastlfel
Kathmandu
Kurkku
Mantis World

The rPET Round Table seeks to identify and support more sustainable practices under Sustainable Development Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), which encourages industries, businesses and consumers to recycle and reduce waste. The ultimate goal is to substantially increase the global availability of rPET and drive rPET production efficiencies, ultimately making it more accessible to all.