Soyang Launches Recyclable DTF Paper in UK as Alternative to PET Transfer Film

A new paper-based transfer media from Soyang Europe is bringing a different material option to direct-to-film garment printing in the UK. The company says its new Soyang DTF Paper is designed as an alternative to conventional PET transfer film and can be recycled through standard paper waste streams after use.

For garment decorators, the development is notable because DTF has grown quickly as a flexible way to print custom T-shirts, hoodies, workwear and sportswear — but the process normally depends on plastic transfer film that is discarded once the design has been heat-applied.

Soyang's launch does not remove every environmental impact associated with DTF printing, but it does target one visible waste stream: the carrier material used to move the printed design from printer to garment.

What is Soyang DTF Paper?

Soyang DTF Paper is a single-sided, release-coated paper transfer media developed for digital inkjet DTF printers using water-based pigment inks.

According to Soyang Europe, the material includes anti-static treatment and is designed for a hot-peel workflow. It is supplied in 60 cm × 100 m rolls and is intended for applications including personalised clothing, workwear, sportswear and promotional garments.

The company says the media can be introduced into existing compatible DTF production environments without requiring printers to replace their current equipment or redesign the overall workflow.

That point is important for UK print businesses. Sustainability upgrades are much easier to adopt when they do not require a second production line, major retraining or expensive hardware replacement.

Why does replacing PET film matter in DTF printing?

In a conventional DTF workflow, artwork is printed onto a PET carrier film. Adhesive powder is applied to the printed image, the transfer is cured, and the finished transfer is then heat-pressed onto the garment. After the image has transferred, the carrier film is peeled away.

That carrier is essential to the process, but it also creates waste.

A paper-based carrier potentially changes the end-of-use route for that part of production. Soyang says its new transfer media can go into standard paper recycling streams, whereas conventional PET transfer film may be more difficult for a print shop to handle through ordinary business recycling arrangements.

The environmental benefit in real-world use will still depend on factors such as local recycling rules, contamination, collection systems and the full lifecycle of the material. For that reason, it is more accurate to describe Soyang DTF Paper as a paper-based alternative designed to reduce reliance on PET carrier film, rather than as a completely waste-free DTF solution.

Does paper DTF require a different printer?

Soyang says the material was developed to fit into established DTF production workflows and is compatible with digital inkjet DTF printers using water-based pigment inks.

That means the headline proposition is not a new printing method. It is a change in the transfer media used within an existing DTF process.

For print businesses, this could make adoption more realistic than sustainability changes that depend on purchasing new machinery.

However, decorators will still need to validate the material against their own printers, inks, powders, curing settings and heat-press workflow before treating it as a drop-in replacement for every job.

Is Soyang DTF Paper recyclable?

Soyang states that the media can be recycled through standard paper waste streams.

That is one of the product's main selling points because traditional DTF carrier sheets are generally PET-based. A move from plastic film to a paper carrier could therefore reduce the amount of plastic transfer backing generated by high-volume garment decorators.

Print businesses should still follow the requirements of their local commercial recycling provider. Whether a used transfer sheet is accepted can depend on contamination and local processing rules.

OEKO-TEX certification adds another apparel-focused signal

Soyang also says the DTF Paper is OEKO-TEX certified, meaning it has been tested against the relevant standard for harmful substances.

For garment-printing businesses, certification can be useful when customers increasingly ask questions about materials used in apparel production, particularly for branded clothing, workwear, sports teams and consumer merchandise.

Certification of the transfer media does not automatically make the entire finished garment or production process sustainable, but it provides another documented attribute for decorators evaluating supplies.

Why this matters for the UK custom clothing market

DTF has become popular because it can be used across a broad range of garments and fabrics. That flexibility makes it especially useful for businesses handling mixed custom-clothing orders, smaller quantities and products that are less suitable for direct-to-garment printing.

The trade-off is that DTF production introduces consumables beyond ink alone, including transfer media and adhesive powder.

As customers become more aware of how personalised products are produced, suppliers are under pressure to improve individual parts of that workflow rather than relying on broad environmental claims.

A recyclable paper carrier is a practical example of that shift: it addresses a specific production material without changing what the customer ultimately receives — a printed garment.

DTF sustainability is becoming a bigger product-development theme

Soyang's launch also fits a wider pattern across the textile-printing market. Manufacturers and media suppliers are increasingly promoting lower-waste workflows, more efficient production, certified materials and alternatives to conventional plastic-heavy consumables.

That matters because DTF is no longer a niche process used by only a small number of decorators. It has become a mainstream option for personalised apparel, workwear, teamwear and promotional clothing.

When a process scales, even small changes to frequently used consumables can become commercially significant.

For a printer running occasional DTF transfers, the carrier-film waste may be limited. For a production environment processing rolls of transfers every day, the volume of discarded backing can be much larger.

Paper DTF vs PET DTF film: what should printers compare?

The most useful comparison is not simply paper versus plastic. Decorators evaluating a new transfer media should consider several factors:

• Print consistency: fine details, gradients and white-ink coverage need to remain predictable.
• Release behaviour: the carrier must peel cleanly at the specified temperature and timing.
• Static handling: media behaviour can affect feeding and production reliability.
• Curing compatibility: ink and adhesive need to work with the chosen workflow.
• Transfer durability: wash performance must remain acceptable after application.
• Production speed: a more sustainable consumable is less attractive if it creates a major bottleneck.
• Waste route: printers should confirm how used media can actually be handled by their recycling provider.
• Cost per transfer: the commercial impact matters for businesses producing high volumes.

Soyang says its DTF Paper is designed to maintain the transfer performance and print quality users expect from conventional media, but print businesses will naturally want to test those claims under their own production conditions.

Could customers notice any difference?

In theory, the carrier material is a production-stage component rather than part of the finished decoration. After heat transfer, the carrier is removed.

That means customers are unlikely to choose a garment because the backing sheet itself feels different. The value is mainly in how the garment was produced and how the print business manages its consumables.

For brands, clubs and organisations with sustainability policies, however, production details can influence supplier selection. A printer able to document reduced use of PET transfer carrier may have a more specific sustainability story than one relying on vague claims.

What this means for ElitePrints customers

For customers ordering custom T-shirts, hoodies, workwear or event merchandise, the launch is another sign that garment-printing technology and consumables are continuing to evolve.

At ElitePrints, the priority remains choosing a print method that suits the garment, artwork, quantity and required finish. DTG and DTF each have different strengths, and developments such as recyclable transfer media could make DTF workflows more attractive for businesses that also want to reduce avoidable production waste.

The important point is that sustainability should not come at the expense of print quality or durability. New materials therefore need to be judged by both their environmental claims and their real production performance.

A small material change with potentially wider impact

Soyang DTF Paper will not transform the environmental footprint of garment decoration on its own. DTF production still uses ink, adhesive, energy, garments, packaging and transport.

But replacing a frequently discarded PET carrier with a paper-based alternative could become meaningful if the material performs reliably and is adopted at scale.

For UK garment decorators, the launch is worth watching because it tackles a specific part of DTF waste while aiming to preserve the workflow flexibility that made DTF popular in the first place.

The next question will be how widely print businesses adopt paper-based transfer media — and whether competing suppliers follow with similar alternatives.