Recycled cotton
Our recycled cotton is made from cotton scraps collected from factory floors.
As
Producing just one pound of conventional cotton requires about 173 gallons of water. Add that to the carbon footprint of soil preparation, the harmful pesticides that affect farmworkers, the cultivation of the plants, and the harvesting of the crops, then scale the number to encompass all the cotton grown worldwide. The result is a significant environmental cost. By using recycled cotton, we extend the lifespan of a fiber that has already been created, use fewer environmental resources, and preserve that soft, comfortable feel.
We are making progress
By making clothes with recycled cotton, we use fewer environmental resources than are needed to grow virgin cotton.
The percentage reduction in CO₂e emissions that we have achieved by using recycled cotton instead of conventional virgin cotton.
Where We Are
Our supply chain partners collect pre-consumer waste from our garment factories and use only cotton that meets our quality standards. The fibers are then mechanically shredded so they can be spun again. Most of our recycled cotton is blended with recycled polyester. This process extends the fiber length to create the perfect yarn for sweatshirts and T-shirts.
For the Spring 2023 season, 31% of our cotton fabrics are made with recycled cotton. Using recycled cotton reduces CO₂e emissions by 80% compared to using conventional virgin cotton.
What's Next
Patagonia focuses on four types of cotton: organic cotton, recycled cotton, cotton in conversion (cotton from farmers who are transitioning their conventional cotton crops to organic) and Regenerative Organic™ (ROC) certified cotton.
Our goal is to incorporate recycled cotton into our raw materials whenever possible. We are constantly working with new partners in the supply chain and exploring new technologies that will allow us to use more recycled cotton.
