Decoding Sustainable Fabrics

Decoding Sustainable Fabrics

Sustainability is the guiding light for all that we do, so that we can create a better world for our babes. 

This is why we believe in offering reusable alternatives to everyday baby products, but also why we want to go one step further and make sure that these are made from sustainable materials.

With more products becoming available marked as ‘sustainable’ or made from repurposed materials we wanted to help decode common sustainability claims to help you made more informed choices for your family.



What is rPET?

The term rPET is used to reference materials made from recycled polyester (short for recycled polyethylene tetraphyte) - basically recycled plastic, most often plastic bottles. Generally the plastics are shredded, then melted and spun into yarn to create a durable yet soft material.

This process not only removes polluting plastic waste from our environment but also has the advantage of requiring upwards of 50% less energy to produce than virgin fibers.



Sounds good right… so why are all rPET fabrics not created equal?


Because there is no global regulation stating the minimum amount of recycled content in a material that is labelled as rPET. So for example, a brand could market a product with as little as 1-5% recycled content as ‘recycled’.



What is the difference between rPET and Repreve?


Repreve® is basically a brand of rPET. We choose to use Repreve® for our Pekpi products including reusable Cloth Nappies and Swim Nappies because their material is derived from 100% recycled fiber content and have obtained recognised certification to substantiate this claim.

Repreve® has received external certification from Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), a leading third-party certifier and standards developer of environmental and sustainability claims. The SCS carries out a yearly audit to continually verify that Repreve® upholds their commitment to 100% recycled content. Repreve® is also certified by The Global Recycle Standard (GRS) which focuses on the integrity of traced recycled content.

Repreve®’s parent company also founded U TRUST® verification and FiberPrint® tracer technology to certify recycled content claims throughout the supply chain to the final product. Ensuring that any Repreve® labeled products are internally monitored to uphold the brand’s integrity and commitment to 100% recycled content.



What does Oeko-Tex certified mean?


Oeko-Tex® is another common fabric certification you may have come across, but what does it refer to? Well, Oeko-Tex® is one of the largest textile industry bodies offering certifications to verify the safety of products and their processes for health and the environment.

Oeko-Tex® operates as an independent body with internationally standardized guidelines to assess areas including environmental impact, use of harmful substances and socially responsible production conditions.

Repreve upholds Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 certification, qualifying that their yarns are tested to be free of harmful levels of more than 100 restricted chemicals.