When it comes to recycled content in fabric, all is not created equal. Pre-Consumer, Post-Consumer, Post-Industrial and Recycled are all terms used in the content listing of textiles but mean different things.
Pre-Consumer Recycled
Also called Post-Industrial or just Recycled content. This means the material is reclaimed waste or excess product from manufacturing processes. For example, a lot of our recycled polyester is derived from plastic bottles. Scraps of plastic from the manufacturing process of those bottles, or waste from the manufacturing process could be considered Pre-Consumer recycled material. It's called Pre-Consumer because it didn't reach any consumers.
Post-Consumer Recycled
This term is designated for material from products that has been used by consumers and would otherwise be discarded as waste. These materials are recovered through consumer recycling.