ANTA Sports’ Compostable T-Shirt with CELYS™ Fibre

When putting on your favourite sportswear, have you ever wondered if you are causing harm to the planet? It may be the most comfortable piece of clothing you have, but it is most likely made from polyester, a highly problematic fabric. 
 
Polyester, or Polyethylene terephthalate, is a synthetic fibre that takes hundreds of years to decompose. In the meantime, it clogs landfills and waterways, shedding microplastics along the way. These microplastics are not just ubiquitous pollutants but are also hazardous to human health. 
 
Thankfully, the world has started waking up to the environmental crisis, and many brands are taking steps to tackle it. One such brand, ANTA Sports, has taken the lead in shifting towards sustainability with countless innovative solutions. 
 
The brand is not new to sustainable growth in business, promoting responsible practices and the development of green technology.
 
ANTA Sports has now introduced its first compostable T-shirt, crafted with CELYS™ compostable fibre. This groundbreaking biodegradable material is a significant step forward in the fight against microplastic pollution.   

ANTA Sports’ Sustainability Initiatives

ANTA Sports has long been committed to innovation, but in 2023, the brand took a major initiative with the launch of its first compostable sweatshirt made with CELYS™ polyester fibre. The sweatshirt went a long way in proving ANTA’s dedication to creating high-performance products that are also environmentally responsible.
 
The brand has now introduced its first compostable T-shirt this summer, also made with CELYS™ fibre.

Unlike traditional polyester, which can take hundreds of years to degrade, CELYS™ fibre biodegrades rapidly. Lab tests conducted on the t-shirt have shown 97.1%
biodegradability* within just six months under industrial composting conditions.

What Makes CELYS™ Fiber so Unique?

CELYS™ fully compostable fibre is a game-changer in textile sustainability. It biodegrades completely into carbon dioxide, water and biomass through microbial action. The process is facilitated by the presence of easily hydrolysable linkages in the polymer backbone and so the fibre biodegrades much faster than traditional PET.
 
The versatility of CELYS™ polyester makes it an absolutely ideal choice for a wide range of applications in the textile industry. With its soft, cotton-like feel and moisture-wicking properties, it offers exceptional comfort for the wearer. Its ability to be dyed at low temperatures, along with its low-pilling characteristics, makes it perfectly suited for use in sportswear.

Biodegradability Testing

ANTA Sports went a step further to satisfy its customers. It sent the t-shirt to the TUV Rheinland lab in China to demonstrate its degrading process. There the t-shirt was placed in a compost bin and kept under observation.

The results were astounding! The t-shirt gradually disintegrated into smaller pieces over time and in a matter of months, it had completely disappeared! This level of
biodegradability is a significant advancement, especially considering how traditional polyester lingers in the environment for centuries.
 
The complete biodegradation was possible due to the compostability of the CELYS™ fibre which has been shown to be 95.4% biodegradable within 179 days. It is a fibre that will surely lead the way in helping reduce the presence of microplastics in the environment.

Final Word

In a world where sustainability is not just a trend but an absolute necessity, ANTA Sports is proving that real change is possible. By making use of the biodegradability of the versatile CELYS™ polyester in its compostable T-shirt, the brand has taken a vital step toward reducing the environmental impact of sportswear.
 
ANTA Sports’ has shown that it is possible to stay committed to performance and do well for the planet at the same time! It has given us, the consumers, the power to choose products that are best suited to a sustainable future.