PET felt has taken its place as an attractive and functional replacement product for a wide range of outdated materials and technologies. It represents a green solution for manufacturing more sustainable products, from backpacks to acoustic panels. There is a lot to love, and the reason can be found in its construction. PET felt benefits the earth, interior designs, and ultimately, our budgets. This eco-friendly synthetic material provides functionality in a wide range of architectural and fashion applications, and is infinitely recyclable. Let’s take a look at what PET felt is, how it is used in modern product manufacturing processes, and some of the important ways PET felt benefits society.
What is PET Felt?
If this is the first time you have encountered PET felt, you’re not alone. PET is still a relatively new material in many markets, but you will soon see it making up a wide range of the products you use every day. PET, which stands for polyethylene terephthalate, is a synthetic plastic material produced primarily from recycled single use plastics. Most commonly, this means recycled beverage bottles, which have become a prevalent problem in our environment. Used bottles are collected, compressed, shredded, and melted down into plastic flakes. These flakes are mixed with a small percentage of virgin plastic fibers, and pressed into sheets that resemble traditional felt in both appearance and feel. As manufacturing processes improve, the percentage of recycled plastic is increasing and transitioning PET into a truly green material.
The Importance of PET Felt
These days, we are always looking to be more environmentally conscious. The world is in the midst of making a switch from fossil fuels to clean energy and from high carbon footprint materials to more sustainable options. One of those sustainable options is PET felt, and it presents an important switch for the planet. Rather than depositing recycled beverage bottles and other single use plastics into landfills and risking their introduction to groundwater and marine ecosystems, PET felt benefits the earth by processing these single use plastics into beautiful, functional products.
PET Felt Properties
The reason PET felt has become such a versatile material for a wide range of manufacturing processes is due to the amazing properties it possesses. It would not have the same variety of use cases if it didn’t. Some of the important and functional properties of PET felt include the following:
Sound Absorption
One of the most common applications for PET felt is in acoustical panels. That’s because one of the most impressive PET felt benefits is its capacity for superior sound absorption. Many people think only of recording studios when they think about acoustic panels, but they are equally useful in homes, offices, and warehouses. Too much exposure to noise can result in hearing damage, including significant hearing loss and tinnitus. Each of these can be a nuisance when communicating with friends and family or listening to music, but can eventually contribute to an increased chance of developing dementia down the line. It’s important for our health that we limit our daily exposure to loud noises. Noise exposure can also lead to problems with focus and productivity, a tendency to make mistakes, and even heighten stress levels. The resulting emotional distress may contribute to a whole host of physical conditions, including high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke. Introducing more porous materials into reflective spaces aids in sound absorption and lowers indoor volumes. Using PET felt for soundproofing and acoustical treatments provides all the sound absorption benefits we need to keep ourselves healthy and comfortable in any space.
Thermal Insulation
Another property that makes PET felt such a sought after material is its thermal insulation ability. We have historically used a lot of different materials to keep ourselves comfortable in the face of extreme temperature changes, and many of them turned out to be harmful to our health. PET felt is a non-toxic material that boasts excellent thermal insulation properties.
Aesthetic Appearance
The appearance of PET felt is remarkably similar to the appearance of traditional felt. This property makes it suitable for use in any product that demands the classic look and soft feel of felt. It can even be custom printed or pigmented to create incredibly vibrant pieces. Whether it’s used on clothing, home furnishings, or acoustical treatments, PET felt looks and feels fantastic.
Flexibility
PET felt is an incredibly flexible material, making it suitable for a wide range of applications. Not only can it be used for stationary furnishings that fit any space, but it can be used to make comfortable and functional clothing.
PET Felt Benefits
There are a lot of awesome benefits of PET felt that set it apart as a phenomenal material for all kinds of applications. Some will improve indoor comfort, while others help to keep our structures functioning the way we want them to. Let’s take a look at some PET felt benefits that you’re sure to love.
Eco-Friendliness
For those looking to use more environmentally friendly choices in their everyday lives, PET felt provides a green solution for many of our manufacturing needs. By repurposing single use plastic products, it keeps them out of our landfills and oceans. This reduces the amount of plastic in our vital ecosystems and reduces the need to overmine our natural resources, making it one of the most earth-friendly advantages of using PET felt.
Sustainability
PET felt benefits the environment through a manufacturing process that doesn’t use as many new, raw materials as other products, and which is much more energy efficient than traditional manufacturing processes. For anyone looking to reduce their dependence on carbon-emitting mining and manufacturing processes, this is a wonderful step in the right direction.
Low Maintenance
PET felt requires little maintenance. It will hold up against even the most difficult conditions, and can be easily cleaned when they get a little dirty. Simply wipe them clean with a soft cloth and clean water. If your PET felt products become soiled beyond the ability of a cloth and water to clean, check the manufacturers recommendations for suitable cleaning products. Remember to always test cleaning solutions in a small, inconspicuous location to test for colorfastness before applying it to the whole item.
Durability
This brings us to another important benefit of PET felt: durability. Since it is made of plastic, PET felt is great for anyone who requires a material that is resistant to incidental damage. It is resistant to all kinds of environmental hazards, including active children and animals, pests, moisture, and mold. These properties make it an ideal choice for environments such as yoga and dance studios, as well as daycare facilities for both children and pets.
Vibrant Colors
Since colors are embedded into the PET material, colors don’t run or fade the way they do with dyed fabric. This leads to vibrant colors that will last as long as the products made from PET felt. If you’re after a material that looks great and represents your brand the way you want, PET felt is a fantastic option.
Applications of PET Felt
With all these amazing PET felt benefits, it stands to reason that there would be a wide world of applications that could utilize such a versatile material. Let’s look at some of the amazing PET felt applications that have already made their way into our modern lives.
Acoustic Panels
As mentioned earlier, one of the most prevalent uses of PET felt is in acoustic panels. Not only do PET felt panels perform incredibly in the world of acoustic insulation, but their aesthetic properties make them suitable for everything from the recording studio to high end concert halls and corporate environments. Plus, there are a wide range of acoustical treatment applications for PET felt to meet your needs. Two of the most popular are wall panels and ceiling panels.
PET Felt Wall Panels
Acoustic wall panels are typically used for reducing the number of direct reflections we experience in highly reflective environments. They are placed on the wall at a height that corresponds with the height of the most prominent source of sound. If speech is the main source, they are placed between about 3 and 7 feet above the floor. If speakers create the most sound, they are typically placed at the same height as those speakers. PET felt also offers those benefits of being highly durable and having extremely vibrant colors, which means that they will retain their form and function in nearly any environment. Utilizing them in indoor spaces reduces the volume of unwanted noise, making it easier to communicate and potentially lowering the stress levels of anyone who spends a considerable amount of time in the space.
PET Felt Ceiling Panels
Acoustical ceiling panels perform in much the same way that wall panels do, but they are either mounted directly to the ceiling or suspended from it into the room’s overhead space. This is a great way to catch and absorb many of the sound waves that bounce back and forth overhead, reducing the reverberation that results in overly noisy rooms. Using these panels to accent your overhead spaces has the added effect of creating eye-catching designs that enhance your interior design and leave guests awestruck.
Fashion
PET felt is just at home in luggage and outerwear as it is in acoustic panels. The same properties that make it so thermally insulating and resistant to moisture make it a perfect solution for the fabrics that protect our bodies and belongings from the elements. This durable fabric can be woven into all kinds of fabrics that are suitable for everything from casual clothing to formal attire. There are, however, safety precautions that should be taken when working around open flames. As a polyester material, PET felt will melt rather than burn away when it comes into contact with excessive heat or open flames. Polyester materials are not suitable for wear in the kitchen or in any jobs that require you to wear cotton clothing as a PPE requirement.
Home Furnishings
Using PET felt in interior design, rather than traditional materials that make up most home furnishings, gives the products longer lives. This is due to PET felt benefits like colorfastness, moisture resistance, and improved durability. It also allows us to design beautiful furnishings without the need to mine the earth and its animals for the raw materials traditionally required to produce them. It’s an earth-friendly option that delivers the appearance and textures we’re after in our high end goods.
Choosing PET Felt for Your Needs
As we have seen, PET felt benefits us in a wide range of ways. It’s good for the earth, gives our single use plastics a second life, and allows the products we buy to last longer and look better. Whether you want to use PET felt in architecture or fashion, it’s more than capable of meeting and exceeding your expectations. Just make sure you choose a reputable manufacturer.
