How can we recycle used PET bottles?

From the old bottle to high-quality cycling apparel by Acelera. Recycling old PET bottles is an important part of our cycling apparel production process. Below, we explain in 6 steps how we transform an old bottle into top-quality cycling clothing.

1. Recycling old PET bottles

The first step in producing our cycling clothing is recycling old PET bottles. By reusing waste materials, we avoid tapping into new natural resources like petroleum.

2. Shredding and cleaning

Before turning old bottles into new clothing, we shred them. These pieces are then thoroughly cleaned, leaving only clean material.

3. Creating granulate

Once the pieces are fully cleaned, they are melted into polyester glaze. These pellets now consist of pure polyester and are as strong as polyester derived from petroleum.

4. Spinning yarns

From this point, the process is the same as producing "normal" cycling clothing. The polyester granulate is spun into strong yarns. These yarns form the basis of our clothing.

5. Weaving fabrics

The recycled yarn can now be used to weave fabrics. Our clothing is made of 98% recycled polyester and 2% elastane. This two percent ensures the clothing remains supple and stretchy, extending the lifespan of our products.

6. Production

We cut panels from large fabric sheets, which are then hand-sewn. Our production facility is located in northern Italy. By keeping production close to home, we also reduce transport emissions.