you may have Note that we have a bit of a climate crisis, but we also have a garbage crisis. Garbage pollutes our oceans, fills city and country streets, and hurts animals after their day. We can reduce our own use of plastic, especially single-use plastic. But thankfully, a few companies have found ways to turn some of that trash (mainly plastic bottles and old clothes) into new clothes and accessories.
Here, we list our favorites we’ve tried so far. Be sure to check out our other guides, such as the best recycling bags, best recycled everyday items or best reusable products.
How Plastic Becomes Thread
Most companies use post-consumer plastic, meaning it comes from plastic that has already been used and recycled. Pre-consumer means it comes from waste from the manufacturing process, before anyone buys it.
Plastic bottles are collected, dried, shredded and then reduced to small pellets. The plastic then passes through an extruder, which spins and pulls the plastic like taffy, turning it into yarn. This still uses quite a bit of energy and resources, but produces far less waste. Everyone needs clothes, so they might as well be more sustainable.
