Recycled plastic bottles to become casino uniforms

Tuesday, 14 June 2011 00:27 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters: U.S. uniform company Cintas Corp (CTAS.O) is betting on green for its new line of shirts for casino workers.

The company has introduced shirts for the gaming industry that are partly made from recycled plastic bottles.

Cintas uses technology that converts plastics into a fiber that can then be woven into fabric. About five plastic bottles are needed to create one shirt, most of which is still manufactured from traditional polyester.

The Jacquard striped shirt for both men and women comes in six colours, including “paprika” and “curry.” Cintas pitches the shirt as a way for the gaming industry to shore up its environmental credentials. Shirts can be washed in regular laundry, reducing dry-cleaning costs.

U.S. consumers throw away an estimated 2.5 million plastic bottles per hour, according to Cintas, which also provides floor mats and first-aid and safety products.

The clothing is part of a sustainable apparel line that includes scrubs for hospital staff and polo shirts made from recycled materials. The company also lays claim to the hotel industry’s first machine-washable tuxedo.

Some shirts can themselves be recycled, said Mark Newell, Cintas’ gaming global account manager.

The Cincinnati-based company, which also provides document management services, has recycled shredded documents into paper towels as well.