World Cup team jerseys made from recycled bottles

Nine teams competing in the World Cup will be wearing environmentally friendly jerseys made from recycled plastic bottles when the tournament kicks off in South Africa on Friday.

Front-runners Brazil, the Netherlands and Portugal are among the teams who will be sporting the shirts made in Taiwan, the island's cabinet said Thursday.

Each jersey is made from eight plastic bottles that are melted and processed into polyester and is 13 percent lighter and can absorb and disperse sweat more quickly than traditional fabric, the cabinet said in a statement.

Environmentally conscious Taiwan is keen to promote green technology and architecture as it seeks to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

A Taiwanese company has turned 1.5 million recycled plastic bottles into a nine-storey pavilion for an international floral show on the island later this year.

(c) 2010 AFP