June 5, 2025 – As global environmental awareness continues to rise, the textile and apparel industry is accelerating its transition toward sustainability. Leading international sportswear brands are significantly increasing the proportion of recycled polyester in their products, driving green development across the sector.
In the realm of athletic fashion, international brands have set a remarkable benchmark. Adidas has achieved a 99% utilization rate of recycled polyester, far exceeding the industry average. Nike made substantial progress in 2023 by boosting its recycled polyester usage by 91%, with 60% of its apparel products now containing this eco-friendly material. Decathlon, meanwhile, is advancing toward its goal of full adoption of recycled polyester by 2025, having already completed 63% of its substitution target.
Chinese domestic brands are actively following suit, according to insights from the Color Masterbatch Industry Network. Li-Ning utilized 2,024 tons of recycled polyester yarn in 2024, accounting for 12% of its total polyester consumption, and has cumulatively transformed 190 million plastic bottles into environmentally friendly yarn. The Anta Group has launched product lines with recycled materials across its brands; for example, FILA’s Cat Claw shoes feature uppers made from recycled PET fibers.
Fast-fashion brands are also keeping pace with this trend. H&M Group has achieved a 29.5% recycled material usage rate, with 94% of its polyester sourced from recycled materials. Uniqlo has gone a step further by fully transitioning its fleece fabric to 100% recycled content and plans to replace half of its fabrics with eco-friendly alternatives by 2030.
Industry experts note that the application of recycled polyester has expanded beyond traditional footwear and apparel fabrics to include accessories such as shoelaces and linings. Brands like Xtep are experimenting with recycled materials across multiple components of their footwear products, driving sustainable upgrades across their entire product lines. This trend underscores the deep integration of environmental principles into every link of the textile and apparel industry chain.