video of a plastic bottle production line.

THE RECYCLED PLASTIC LIE

Why Supply Chain Transparency Matters in Workwear

In a world where sustainability claims are now a selling point, the word ‘recycled’ has become gold. But behind the green labels and eco-friendly promises, there’s a growing problem that many in the workwear industry don’t talk about - deceit in the supply chain.

Factories in some parts of the world claim to use recycled plastic to produce garments. However, many of these claims simply don’t hold up.

Worse still, businesses are paying a premium for these so-called sustainable garments and passing that message on to their customers and employees… without realising they’ve been misled.

A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT

The hard truth is that unless a factory can prove the origin of their recycled yarn with full supply chain transparency, there’s every chance the yarn isn’t recycled at all.

It’s shockingly common for suppliers to say all the right things like ‘recycled content’, ‘sustainable production’, ‘lower carbon impact’ – and deliver none of it.

WHY? BECAUSE THERE’S MONEY IN THE LIE

Producing fabric from virgin plastic is often cheaper and easier than sourcing authentic, certified recycled content. When there are no checks or verifications in place, it’s all too tempting for factories to take shortcuts, pocket the premium, and keep the recycled plastic label anyway.

Why this matters to you

If you're an end-user business or workwear distributor trying to do the right thing – selecting what you believe are sustainable garments – the risk is twofold:

1. You don't get what you pay for.

You’re being charged more for a product that likely hasn’t cost more to produce. That’s a broken value exchange.

2. You're unintentionally misleading your customers and wearers.

If you pass on the ‘recycled’ story as part of your own brand's sustainability credentials, you could be promoting a false narrative, which is a reputational risk you didn’t sign up for.

3. Legal and Financial Ramifications

Companies may face legal actions, fines and penalties if found to be involved in the production or sale of false recycled yarn. The consequences of non-compliance can be severe.

ØRN are truly traceable & accredited from source.

The only way to know: Accredited traceability

The only reliable way to verify that a garment is truly made with recycled plastic is through official third-party certifications, such as the Global Recycled Standard (GRS).

GRS certification tracks the recycled content from source to final product. It audits not only the fibre content, but also the environmental and social practices of the entire supply chain.

Under GRS, it is essential that every material composition and percentage blend used in a product is explicitly validated and included within the scope certificate. It’s not enough to simply have a GRS certification – the exact fibre combinations and claimed recycled content must be listed and approved and the overall certified scope must be independently verified to ensure full compliance and traceability.

Any supplier can say their yarn is recycled. GRS certification proves it.

What to ask for

Before trusting any recycled plastic claims, ask your supplier or manufacturer for:

GRS certification documents (or equivalent)
Batch-level traceability
Auditable supply chain records
Evidence of regular independent testing

If they can’t provide these – or dodge the questions – treat it as a red flag.

The workwear industry needs to raise the bar

traceability accountability and trust in business

At ØRN Workwear, we believe it’s time the industry stopped accepting vague sustainability claims at face value. We must hold the supply chain accountable and demand proof. Because real sustainability doesn’t come from greenwashing – it comes from traceability, accountability and trust.

If your supplier can’t back up their recycled claims with real data, you’re not just being overcharged – you’re being deceived.

Profit-driven shortcuts and deceptive accounting practices plague the ‘recycled plastic’ supply chain. Until certified traceability becomes standard, the term ‘recycled’ remains vulnerable to exploitation – and you may not be getting what you pay for.

But with transparency, certification, and clear expectations, the industry can change that. Unless recycled plastic garments are GRS certified, there is no way to be sure the fabric is genuinely recycled. Anything else is a gamble – and likely to be false.

At ØRN, we ensure that every sustainable claim we make is rooted in evidence - not empty promises. And we can prove it through our GRS accreditation.

If you’re unsure about what’s in your current garments or want to know more about certified, genuinely sustainable workwear options, get in touch.