By Melissa Donovan
Textiles optimized for digital printing are available with a percentage of post-consumer waste versus virgin components. These materials do not compromise on quality while preventing waste in landfills and conserving natural resources.
Several vendors in the graphic arts boast products that fall under this category. Some are certified by third-party organizations like Unifi, Inc.’s REPREVE and the Textile Exchange’s Global Recycled Standard (GRS).
Aberdeen Fabrics, Inc.
The company provides both coated for direct ink dye-sublimation (dye-sub) printing and transfer dye printing. These are typically100 percent polyester soft knit, premium soft knit, and premium heavy knit stretch materials available at up to three to four meters wide.
Fisher Textiles
ET 5351 Waterfall is a soft signage fabric for canopy tents and outdoor banner. It has a durable water repellant coating for water resistance and is available 122 inches wide and weighs 7.5 oz per square yard. Made from 60 percent REPREVE recycled polyester, 40 percent polyester, it contains 26 water bottles per linear yard and is compatible with dye-sub transfer printing.
ET 8050 Super Sonic, a soft signage fabric for backlit silicone edge graphics (SEG) and banners, produces excellent vibrancy of print amplified when backlit, according to the company. It is available 126 inches wide and weighs 7.7 oz per square yard. Made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled polyester, it contains 48.7 water bottles per linear yard and is compatible with dye-sub transfer printing.
ET9410 Soft Knit is a soft signage fabric for frontlit SEG, banners, and backdrops. It is available 126 inches wide and weighs 6 oz per square yard. Made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled polyester, it contains 32.9 water bottles per linear yard and is compatible with dye-sub transfer printing.
ET9417 Soft Knit is a soft signage fabric for frontlit SEG, banners, and backdrops. It is available 125 inches wide and weighs 6 oz per square yard. Made from 40 percent REPREVE recycled polyester, 60 percent polyester, it contains 14 water bottles per linear yard and is compatible with dye-sub transfer printing.
ET9708 Heavy Knit is a soft signage fabric for frontlit SEG, banners, and table throws. It is available 126 inches wide and weighs 6.7 oz per square yard. Made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled polyester, it contains 40.1 water bottles per linear yard and is compatible with dye-sub transfer printing.
ET 1950 Pique Polo is an apparel fabric for golf polos and athletic shirts, contains wicking, a moisture management treatment, is available 60 wide and weighs 9.5 oz per square yard. Made from 100 percent REPREVE recycled polyester, it contains 15.9 water bottles per linear yard and is compatible with dye-sub transfer printing.
ET 3000 Yoga is an apparel fabric for yoga pants, leggings, and jerseys, contains wicking, a moisture management treatment, is available 60 inches wide and weighs 15 oz per square yard. Made from 84 percent REPREVE recycled polyester, 16 percent Spandex, it contains 21 water bottles per linear yard and is compatible with dye-sub transfer printing. It is also available in black.
ET 4000 Board Short is an apparel fabric for board shorts and Hawaiian shirt. It is water repellent and available 57 inches wide and weighs 7 oz per square yard. Made from 91 percent recycled polyester, nine percent Spandex. It is compatible with dye-sub transfer printing.
ETP 4310 Uni is an apparel fabric for athletic uniforms, contains wicking, a moisture management treatment, is available 60 inches wide and weighs 12.2 oz per square yard. Made with 100 percent percent REPREVE and 100 percent post-consumer waste, it contains 20.5 water bottles per linear yard and is compatible with dye-sub transfer printing.
RePatriot Flag, LLC
RePatriot manufactures U.S., military, state, and customs flags made from fabric that begins its life as recycled plastic bottles. The U.S. flag, made from that recycled content, is constructed to meet the exact U.S. Government specifications for a traditional nylon flag. The company partners with Unifi, Inc. to use its REPREVE polyester as the base yarn, which is woven into fabric; dyed red, white, and blue; and manufactured into the U.S. flag.
Greentex America
Greentex offers several REPREVE textiles optimized for digital printing, including REPREVE performance knits and REPREVE recycled woven fabrics. These fabrics are available in a variety of widths and compatible with various ink types, including sublimation and direct-to-fabric printing.
PreMex Solutions
The company stocks a range of REPREVE textiles in both its U.S. and U.K. warehouses, suitable for the home decoration market. These range from 188gsm to 300gsm and between 56 to 60 inches in width. All qualities are suitable for dye-sub printing.
Products include 2406 Eco Cordoba, 66 percent inherent FR polyester/34 percent REPREVE 188gsm; 2331 Eco Freemont, 100 percent REPREVE 209gsm; 2332 Eco Canvas, 44 percent REPREVE/56 percent polyester 215gsm; 2566 Eco Columbus,100 percent REPREVE 230gsm; 2336 Eco Phoenix, 68 percent REPREVE/32 percent polyester 247gsm; 2338 Eco Portland, 50 percent REPREVE/50 percent polyester 250gsm; 2333 Eco Austin, 48 percent REPREVE/44 percent polyester eight percent linen 284gsm; and 2569 Eco Toledo, 100 percent REPREVE 300gsm.
UFabrik
UFabrik Backlit ECO Textile is a backlit textile produced from 100 percent recycled PET plastic bottle waste. Manufactured to ensure stunning backlit and front lit applications, it is top coated for use with UV or latex inks and ensures brilliant color reproduction. Crease- and wrinkle-free on tension with no bruising or marking when folded, it’s the ultimate material for all backlit applications in retail, event, and exhibition graphics. This textile is also REACH, GRS certified and complies with the California Proposition 65.
UFabrik Opaque ECO Textile is a blockout material designed for ultimate color reproduction with UV and latex inks. It has a unique white print face made from 100 percent recycled plastic bottles and has a gray and black woven reverse made from polyester, which ensures complete blockout plus total scratch and scrub resistance. This is a highly sustainable textile comprising 50 percent recycled content with 100 percent recyclable afterlife. This textile is also REACH and GRS certified.
Ultraflex Systems, Inc.
ReSource Backlit S180 is a 5.3 oz., recycled woven polyester coated fabric. The material is used for a range of applications such as LED framing systems, light boxes, retail displays, indoor banners, and point of sale displays. ReSource Backlit S180 is compatible with UV and latex printing. It is available in widths from 63 to 196 inches.
ReSource Eclipse D260 is a 100 percent polyester, crease-free material featuring a black backside that provides complete opacity to reduce translucency and shadowing. The material is made of GRS certified recycled yarns and is ideal for pop-ups, framing systems, trade show graphics, and other display applications. ReSource Eclipse D260 is print compatible with UV and latex inks and is available in 63- to 196-inch widths.
These are a few available products and vendors that offer media made up of recycled content. Read the article on this topic in the July issue for more information and visit digitaloutput.net/webinars.
The next part in our web-exclusive textile series tackles high-speed dye-sub printing.
Jul2023, Digital Output
