Polyester is a type of fabric made from fossil fuels. It starts with extracting crude oil, a non-renewable resource, from the Earth. The crude oil undergoes a refining process to create a substance called ethylene, which is then further processed to produce a polymer called polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This PET is the primary building block of polyester.
After obtaining PET, it goes through a process called polymerization. In this step, the PET molecules are chemically bonded together to form long chains, giving polyester its durable properties. These chains are then melted and spun into fibers, which can be woven or knitted to create polyester fabrics.
The process of making polyester from fossil fuels requires a considerable amount of energy and resources, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution. The reliance on fossil fuels for polyester production is one of the key reasons why it is considered harmful to the environment.
I'm sure you'd prefer not to support environmentally harmful practices by wearing aprons made from fossil fuels, and I'd love to encourage you to consider planet-friendly aprons like these, when you shop for your next apron.