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Cotton or polyester: Which is better?

Two materials are most commonly used in the textile industry and for you the question arises: Is it better to go for cotton or polyester? To this you can clearly say: "Well, it depends...".
The two fabrics bring with them fundamentally different properties that can be practical or also a hindrance, depending on the area of use. A topic that is also increasingly coming into focus in the textile industry is the sustainability of the garments. What about cotton or polyester? Some people would probably be surprised!

Cotton or Polyester - The Biggest Differences

How are the fabrics made?


Cotton 

Cotton, which is so popular, is a natural fabric made from plant fibres. More precisely, it is made from the seed hairs of a plant growing in the tropics and subtropics. While the short fibres are rather used for the production of paper, fleeces, hygiene articles or the like, the long fibres end up in the textile industry. 
Polyester 

In contrast, polyester is a synthetic fibre made of numerous plastics, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), fleece or polycarbonate. All these plastics are obtained from petroleum. From a chemical point of view, one also speaks of artificially produced polymers - i.e. long chains of molecules (monomers). Depending on their composition, these provide the different properties of the substances.

How do the fabrics feel?


Cotton 

Depending on the type of fabric cotton is made into, it has a different feel and special wearing properties. Known types of fabric are, for example, denim, flannel or jersey. In general, however, cotton is relatively soft and breathable, which makes it particularly suitable for warm weather as well as sensitive skin. However, cotton is not suitable for tight-fitting clothing - it expands quickly. In addition, a textile made of 100% cotton dries very slowly. 

Polyester properties 

Polyester was originally developed as a substitute for silk, which is why the fabric feels very light and silky. As polyester dries quickly and is just as breathable as cotton, it is particularly suitable for sports and outdoor use. Since the fabric does not absorb sweat as much as cotton, it keeps you warm longer in cold weather. Sweating in polyester is also much more pleasant, as the moisture is wicked directly to the outside.

How can the fabrics be printed?


Cotton 

Cotton can be finished mainly with screen printing or flex and flock printing. Screen printing has the advantage of being particularly durable, but it is only worthwhile for very large quantities. Otherwise, you have to reckon with very high costs. 

Polyester

Polyester can also be finished with flex or flock printing. Although screen printing is not possible because the synthetic fibre cannot absorb the colour so well, polyester textiles can be finished very flexibly and cost-effectively with modern sublimation printing. The colours come out particularly strong with this technique and hardly fade over time.

How durable are the fabrics?


Cotton 

High-quality cotton textiles are less susceptible to tears and very durable overall. But they still don't come close to the durability of a polyester fabric. This is because cotton fabric suffers greatly, especially when washed at high temperatures or with too much detergent. Not only do the textiles shrink as a result, but colours can also fade quickly.  

Polyester 

Polyester, on the other hand, is much more robust and durable than cotton and almost all blended fabrics, even under heavy load. Since the fibres are produced artificially, they can be directly given the desired properties (e.g. strength, stretchability, etc.). Another advantage is the low absorbency of the material. This means that hardly any permanent stains occur. In addition, polyester also resists any wrinkling, shrinkage or colour fading if well cared for.
Moderner Sublimationsdruck bei spized

Are there areas where polyester or cotton is more suitable?

Based on the most important differences, it has already become clear that polyester can be used in a much more versatile way than cotton due to its properties. In the following, we would like to highlight 2 areas in which polyester is particularly suitable:
Polyester is a very frequently used material in the sports and outdoor sector. This is because the flexibly producible synthetic fibres can be perfectly adapted for pretty much any area of use. Polyester fabrics are very popular in team sports such as football, handball, basketball or volleyball as well as in cycling or running. And for the following reasons: 


  • Transports moisture: Unlike natural fibres, synthetic fibres absorb almost no moisture and transfer it directly to the outside. That means with polyester we sweat directly to the outside and there is no annoying waterlogging in the clothing. 

  • Particularly hygienic: as the fibres do not absorb sweat, it is virtually impossible for harmful bacteria to develop. In addition, an unpleasant smell of perspiration is almost completely prevented in this way. Sweating in polyester is no problem! 

  • Dries quickly: After a sweaty bike ride, a strenuous first half or an arduous run, the jersey is quickly dry again. And even after a wash, you don't have to wait long before the jersey is ready for use again. It doesn't even need to be ironed.  

  • Keeps you warm in the cold: as perspiration is transported directly away from the skin to the outside, there is no unpleasant shivering during sports breaks. Incidentally, polyester fibres are also ideal as linings and/or fillings for outdoor jackets. Here, too, they have a wonderfully warming effect.  

  • Especially breathable: Modern and specially processed polyester fabrics are now as breathable as natural fabrics. 

  • Particularly stretchy: Good elasticity and adaptability of the fabrics used are equally important in the sports sector. In cycling, for example, the clothing must fit tightly and be streamlined. In handball, on the other hand, an opponent should be able to pull on the jersey without it tearing immediately. Since the fibres are produced artificially, all these properties can be fulfilled flexibly.  

  • Good for printing: The use of polyester enables finishing with modern and high-quality sublimation printing. Especially in team sports, running or cycling, you can have your jersey sets produced very flexibly and cost-effectively. Find out here about all the other advantages of sublimation printing with spized.

Bei spized sind alle Druckkosten inklusive.

What about the sustainability of cotton or polyester?

At the latest with the start of the Fridays for Future demos, the issue of sustainability became increasingly important for many consumers. This also applies to the textile industry. For us, the question at this point is whether cotton or polyester is more sustainable in production. Is cotton really as sustainable as its reputation suggests or can polyester possibly come out on top? 

Let's look at a few facts first:

Cotton

  • Natural fibres are biodegradable
  • Cultivation requires large amounts of water (irrigation, cleaning and finishing of the yarns)
  • On average, the production of a T-shirt requires approx. 2500 litres of water (comparison: approx. 150-180 litres fit into a bathtub).
  • Environmentally harmful pesticides are used in cultivation
  • Social standards are often disregarded during harvesting, so working conditions are poor
  • Natural fibres also release microfibres, e.g. during private washing (sometimes even more than synthetic fibres).

Polyester

  • Is derived from oil and thus a scarce and non-renewable resource
  • Boom in the fast-fashion industry due to synthetic fibres (clothing waste quantities increase)
  • Polyester fibres do not show any complete degradation processes
  • Wastewater treatment plants retain only 90% of microplastics
  • Sewage sludge often ends up in the oceans

So which is more sustainable - cotton or polyester?

Neither of these sounds very rosy. What criteria should be used to decide? The answer lies in recycling and reuse. In order to counteract a shortage of resources and environmental damage, it is important to avoid any new materials. It is therefore better to use existing fibres and recycle them. 


In fact, polyester is winning the race here: While cotton can usually only be recycled once or twice at the most, polyester is continuously renewable. In addition, the yarn quality of recycled cotton decreases considerably and usually has to be reinforced with synthetic fibres or newly obtained cotton yarn. 

Recycled polyester can be made from PET bottles, for example, without the need for new oil resources. The aim is to use these waste products to produce textiles that are as robust and durable as possible, which the new consumer can in turn wear for longer. Recycled polyester also releases significantly less microplastic than newly produced polyester.
Daraus können Trikots entstehen: PET-Flaschen.

Cotton or Polyester Overview Table

Cotton
Polyester
ProductionNatural fabric from plant fibresSynthetically produces synthetic fibres
HapticsSoft
Relatively loose
Easy
Silky
Elastic
Wear propertiesSkin-friendly
Breathable
Very absorbent
Slow drying
Can be ideally adapted for all purposes
Distributes moisture optimally
Quick drying
PrintabilityScreen Printing
Flex and flock printing
Flex and flock printing
Sublimation printing
DurabilityShrinks  and fades trough much washinVery robust and dimensionally stable
Range of applicationSummer clothing
Blankets & Bedding
Dishes and towels
Sports and outdoor clothing
Mouth and nose protection
Filling for pillows
Matress covers
SustainabilityHigh water consumption, pesticides and unfair working conditions
Recycling only possible to a limited extent
Non-degradable, leaves microplastics behind 
Recycling works very well

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