Why Do People Avoid Polyester Fabric? Should you?

Polyester is everywhere nowadays. Pull a random piece of clothing out of your closet and there’s a pretty good chance that it’s at least partially made from polyester. This is largely because polyester is the cheapest type of fiber to produce. It’s one of the easiest ways companies can cut corners to make their products cheaper in the store. But is this cheap, plastic fabric really something we want to wear?

People avoid polyester fabric because it’s not great for the environment and 100% polyester is usually not a very comfortable fabric to wear. The material has a somewhat plastic-like texture and has very poor breathability. In addition, most polyester is made from virgin plastic, not recycled material.

Despite these legitimate reasons for avoiding the material, it’s actually not as clear-cut a decision to avoid it as you may think. For example, fabrics made of a blend of polyester and cotton retain the soft feeling and breathability of the cotton but also gain the wrinkle resistance and strength of polyester fibers.

At the moment, my choice is to avoid buying new garments and material that are made from polyester, but I will still buy products second-hand that are made of polyester blends. Your decision may be different than mine, but it’s good to know why people avoid it so you can make an informed choice.

1. Polyester is one of the least sustainable types of fabric

Polyester is considered one of the least sustainable types of fabric. It is a synthetic material made from petroleum-based products (basically plastic fibers), which contributes to the depletion of non-renewable resources. 

Additionally, the manufacturing process of polyester involves high energy consumption and emits large amounts of greenhouse gases, further exacerbating the effects of climate change. Polyester fabrics are not biodegradable and can persist in the environment for hundreds of years, contributing to the growing issue of textile waste and microfiber pollution.

2. Polyester doesn’t feel comfortable against the skin

A common complaint about polyester is that it does not feel comfortable to wear. Unlike natural fibers, like cotton, polyester has a synthetic, smooth texture that often has a plastic-like feel to it (especially low-quality polyester). It can feel hot and sticky, particularly in warm weather or during physical activities. While advancements in polyester and textile technology are making polyester more comfortable, it will still never be as soft and pleasant to wear as cotton. 

3. Polyester makes you smell more

Polyester fabric has a notorious reputation for trapping odors. I always find that any polyester shirt that I wear starts smelling within a couple of hours of wearing it, while most of my cotton shirts can last a day (or even two sometimes)

The synthetic nature of polyester causes it to retain more odor-causing bacteria than natural fibers like cotton or wool. This is because polyester fibers are hydrophobic, meaning they repel water and hold onto oils and sweat more readily. As a result, these substances get trapped within the fabric, leading to the growth of bacteria and persistence of unpleasant odors.

4. Polyester is not breathable

Polyester is well known and rightly criticized for its lack of breathability. It’s sorta like wearing a plastic sheet on your body.

This makes it pretty uncomfortable in warm or humid conditions. This lack of breathability is due to the synthetic nature of polyester fibers, which do not allow for effective air circulation. It traps sweat and heat against the skin. 

The tightly woven structure of many types of polyester fabric further restricts the flow of air, preventing efficient ventilation. This can result in that “clingy” or sticky feeling against the skin.

5. Polyester is more likely to cause skin conditions to flare up

Polyester is more likely to cause flare-ups of skin conditions, such as eczema or dermatitis, due to its non-breathable nature and synthetic properties. The lack of breathability in polyester fabric can trap sweat, heat, and moisture against the skin, creating an environment favorable for the growth of bacteria and fungi. This can result in irritation, itching, and inflammation, exacerbating existing skin conditions.

6. Washing polyester releases microplastics into waterways

When polyester garments are washed, small fibers are shed from the fabric and enter the wastewater. These fibers, known as microplastic fibers, are too tiny to be filtered out by wastewater treatment plants and end up being discharged into rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Once in the waterways, these microplastics can have detrimental effects on marine life and ecosystems, entering the food chain and potentially impacting human health as well (since this is a relatively new discovery, we don’t have enough research to know the true impacts of microplastics).

Of course, some types of polyester fabric are bigger offenders in this area than others. Polyester satin and fleece, for example, tend to shed a lot more fibers than materials that are more tightly woven. Also washing clothing in cool water is generally better than washing in warm water.

7. Cheap polyester degrades quickly ( causing pilling and distortions on fabrics)

A lot of cheap polyester fabric degrades much too quickly. Pilling is a common occurrence with low-quality polyester. This is because polyester fibers, being synthetic, are generally smooth and slippery, which can cause them to rub against each other during wear or in the washing machine. This friction leads to the entanglement and pilling of fibers.

8. People think polyester is toxic

Some people choose not to wear polyester because they believe the fiber itself is a toxic carcinogen. The good news for all of us is that the evidence does not support this claim. However, depending on the specific dyes and finishes used, these substances can pose health risks.

That being said, these are dyes and finishes that can be used on any type of fabric, not just polyester. So if you’re avoiding polyester because you believe it’s toxic, you’ll want to opt for clothes that use natural dyes or are certified with Oeko-Tex Standard 100, which ensures that textiles have been tested for harmful substances.

9. Polyester blended garments cannot be recycled

It’s pretty rare for polyester garments to be recycled as is, but if it’s 100% polyester, it’s technically possible. However, a lot of polyester is combined and blended with other fibers (like cotton or wool), which throws a wrench into any recycling or biodegradable properties of the materials involved.

The recycling process for polyester involves melting down the fabric to create new polyester fibers, but when blended with other fibers, like cotton or wool, the different materials can make separation and processing impossible.