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RPET BAGS

rPET Bags

Non-woven rPET bags, uncoated or laminated. GRS transaction certificate on request.

rPET stands for recycled polyethylene terephthalate, which is recycled polyester. Post-consumer PET is collected, cleaned and flaked, then spun into filament or fibre. That fibre becomes the non-woven fabric of your bag: spunbond or stitchbond, uncoated or laminated.

Plastic bottles are the main feedstock, but not the only one: other post-consumer and pre-consumer PET goes into the same stream. A recycled-content claim rests on the certified recycled weight. A “made from bottles” claim needs its own evidence.

At the same fabric weight and construction, an rPET bag performs comparably to a virgin polyester bag. What it adds is evidence: if you ask for GRS when you order, the transaction certificate for your shipment is available on request and states the certified recycled weight. For buyers who need to back up a recycled-content claim, that is the document to ask for.

Our rPET bags guide explains spunbond, stitchbond and laminated rPET, and how to read the transaction certificate for your order.

Why rPET now

Two things are driving demand right now

In Europe

From 27 September 2026, Directive (EU) 2024/825 bans generic environmental claims such as “eco-friendly” in consumer marketing, unless the trader can show recognised excellent environmental performance, in practice the EU Ecolabel or an officially recognised ecolabel. A specific claim, such as the recycled share of the bag by weight, still needs proof, and for recycled content that proof is the transaction certificate.

In the US

The FTC Green Guides expect environmental claims to be specific, accurate and substantiated. GRS certification gives you a documented audit trail. US marketing claims should still be reviewed by counsel before publishing.

If you have a public recycled-content target, or a customer audit asks you to prove recycled content, the transaction certificate for your order is the document that answers it.
At a glance

Specifications

MaterialrPET non-woven: spunbond or stitchbond, uncoated or laminated, 85 to 140 g/m². On laminated rPET the weight is the total, including the film
SourcePost-consumer PET, mainly plastic bottles. Other recycled PET sources are also used.
Load capacitySet by construction and stitching. Tell us the load your bag has to carry and we will specify the construction for it
Available stylesShopper, duffle, backpack, turn-over bag, zipper pouch, boat shape bag
CertificationGRS (Global Recycled Standard) IDF-26-1040972, BSCI
Recycled contentFabric: recycled PET. Finished bag: lower, calculated by weight, because film, bonding layer, thread and trims are not recycled. A laminated rPET bag we produced for a client is 59% recycled by weight
CustomizationSize, color, handle type, print (lamination, screen, sublimation on white uncoated rPET, heat transfer)
MOQ10,000 pcs
ProductionVietnam and China
From bottle to bag

How a bottle becomes your bag

1
Post-consumer PET, mainly bottles, is collected and sorted
2
Cleaned, sanitized, and ground into flakes
3
Flakes are melted, directly or after pelletising
4
The melt is spun into continuous filament or cut into staple fibre
5
The fibre is laid as a web and bonded by heat (spunbond) or by stitching (stitchbond)
6
Fabric is printed, or laminated with a printed film, then cut and sewn into your bag
If you ask for GRS when you order, a certification body issues a transaction certificate for each certified sale in this chain, on application by the seller. The transaction certificate for your shipment is available on request. It states the certified recycled weight, which you compare with the net shipping weight to see how much of the finished bag is certified.
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Coated vs uncoated

An uncoated rPET bag gives the highest recycled share, and it is a single polymer if the thread and handles are PET too. It is still hard to recycle: collection routes for textile bags do not reach enough consumers to call any rPET bag recyclable.

A laminated rPET bag has a plastic film, usually polypropylene, bonded to the PET fabric. It is more water resistant and carries photographic print, but its recycled share is lower and it is harder still to recycle. If a recycled-content claim matters to you, we recommend uncoated.

We will tell you which finish works best for your use case.

Certifications

What we can document for your order

GRS
GRS: Global Recycled Standard
Third-party verification of recycled content through a certified chain of custody. A claim that uses the GRS name or logo on or about your own branded bag, sold to consumers, needs your own GRS certification. Without it, you can make a specific recycled-content claim of your own, backed by the transaction certificate. Our GRS scope certificate is IDF-26-1040972 (Textile Exchange ID TE-00345697), issued by IDFL and valid to 29 June 2027. A Transaction Certificate for your order, the document that evidences the recycled content of that specific shipment, is available on request.
BSCI
BSCI
amfori BSCI social compliance audit. Available for clients whose procurement or compliance teams require social audit documentation.
FAQ’s
How is rPET different from standard polyester bags?
Standard polyester uses virgin PET made from petrochemicals. rPET is the same polymer, made mainly from post-consumer plastic bottles. At the same fabric weight and construction, performance is comparable. The difference is in the supply chain and what you can prove about it. Our rPET bags are non-woven, spunbond or stitchbond; our polyester bags are woven.
What percentage of recycled content do the bags contain?
The finished bag is usually less recycled than its rPET fabric, because the thread, most handles and trims, and any lamination film and bonding layer are not recycled material. On a customised laminated rPET bag we produced for a client, the fabric is 100% recycled and the bag is 59% recycled by weight. If you ask for GRS when you order, the certified weight is stated on the Transaction Certificate for your shipment, which we provide on request. A scope certificate confirms we sit inside the certified chain of custody; it does not by itself document the content of an individual order.
Can I make a recycled content claim on my bags?
Yes, if it is specific and matches the evidence. State the recycled share of the whole bag by weight, or name the component it covers, such as the fabric. A claim that uses the GRS name or logo needs your own GRS certification, because for products sold to consumers Textile Exchange requires certification up to the brand. Without it, make your own recycled-content claim, backed by the transaction certificate. We recommend working with your legal or marketing team on the exact wording under the FTC Green Guides (US), Directive (EU) 2024/825 or equivalent local rules.
Can I see a sample before committing to an order?
Yes. We can send samples of existing styles. A sample fee applies whenever artwork or dimensions change from a previous version. This covers the cost of producing a new sample to your exact spec.
How long does production take?
45-60 days after artwork approval. Custom development adds 2-3 weeks for sample approval.
Need GRS documentation alongside your order?
Want to compare rPET to another material? Send us your requirements and we will come back within 24 hours.
Request rPET Pricing and Certification Docs
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More questions

How much weight can an rPET bag carry?

It depends on the construction, not on the recycled content. Fabric weight, handle material, how the handles are attached and the stitching set the load. Tell us the load your bag has to carry and we will specify the construction for it.

Is an rPET bag recyclable at the end of its life?

Not in practice today, so we do not call any rPET bag recyclable. An uncoated rPET bag is a single polymer if the thread and handles are PET too, but collection routes for textile bags do not reach enough consumers to support a recyclable claim. A laminated rPET bag bonds a plastic film, usually polypropylene, to the PET fabric, and we found no commercial process that separates the two, so it is harder still to recycle. Describe the bag as hard to recycle. If end of life matters to your programme, specify uncoated rPET with PET thread and PET webbing: that is a single polymer and gives the highest recycled share.

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