Plastic Free July is a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution – so we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities. In honor of this, LVRSustainable highlights three brands — Underprotection, Peninsula, and Tropic of C — that strive to center their businesses and designs around sustainable choices.
Read more to discover their individual journeys into reducing the environmental impact of plastic waste and browse through their latest styles!
Underprotection: On a mission to solve the ocean plastic crisis
How does your brand contribute to reducing the environmental impact of plastic?
Underprotection is making every style in sustainable materials such as recycled plastic. This gives a meaningful new life to plastic that is no longer serving a purpose in its original form. Furthermore, we are looking into a collaboration with the purpose-driven business, ReSea founded on the belief that businesses together have the force to make a real difference. By joining this project, Underprotection is a part of a very important cleanup mission to solve the ocean plastic crisis.
What would you recommend to a customer who wants to buy a sustainably recycled item?
Make sure to support the brands that can actually prove that their items are sustainable and recycled. There’s a lot of greenwashing out there so look after certifications. Especially the GRS certification (Global Recycle Standard). The GRS is intended to meet the needs of companies looking to verify the recycled content of their products and to verify responsible social, environmental, and chemical practices in their production.
What are the benefits of purchasing sustainable garments?
The good thing about buying sustainable garments made from recycled plastic is that the quality will never turn out bad. Recycled polyester feels and looks as good as virgin polyester and on top of this, recycled polyester is considered a very green option in textiles since its using less energy to produce compared to virgin polyester.
How can the use of recycled plastic within the fashion industry make a difference?
Plastic entering the ocean is invading vital sea life with microplastic that is invisible to the human eye. So instead of producing virgin polyester, there’s a big win-win situation, not just for the fashion industry, but for the whole world by recycling plastic into soft sustainable textile.
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Peninsula: Printed swimwear combating plastic pollution in the sea
How does your brand contribute to reducing the environmental impact created by plastic?
First and foremost, by making our production chain as sustainable as possible. All our garments were created to last and subsequently, to be regenerated according to a circular economy model. During the production process, we look for recycled materials. In fact, we use regenerated polyester to produce our swimwear pieces. Furthermore, we’ve selected partner companies throughout the years, such as Marevivo, to combat the effect of plastic pollution in the sea. Today we are still looking to work with sustainable-centered partners and influential individuals in order to implement plans aimed at cleaning the sea and beaches.
What would you recommend to a customer who wants to buy a sustainably recycled item?
Consumers today are more careful, and future ones will become even more so: everyone wants to purchase products without having to think that these are the result of something that will damage the environment. Because of this, we advise customers to always inquire about the origins and production processes of the item they are about to purchase. Awareness is important now and its importance will increase in the future. We also recommend taking care and repairing the garments in order to extend their lifecycle and to recycle, reuse and/or donate old clothes. This way we can all make a difference.
What are the benefits of purchasing sustainable garments?
Plastic is a resilient, durable material that doesn’t decompose easily, 33% of all plastic is used once and then thrown away. The majority ends up in the sea. Purchasing a sustainable garment allows the plastic to be put back into circulation, therefore preventing it from ending up in the sea.
How can the use of recycled plastic within the fashion industry make a difference?
As everyone knows, the fashion industry generates some of the highest pollution levels in the world. Using recycled materials, and specifically, plastic could decrease overall pollution and the amount of plastic found in the sea.
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Tropic of C: Recycling fishing nets and fabric scraps into swimwear
How does your brand contribute to reducing the environmental impact of plastic?
From our fabrics to the finishing touches and everything in between, Tropic of C continually aims to reduce the environmental impact of our products through ongoing sustainable fabric development and refining our manufacturing processes. We are close to achieving our 100% sustainable packaging goals and encourage awareness and action around the critical issue of responsible consumption.
What would you recommend to a customer who wants to buy a sustainably recycled item?
We would recommend one of our many styles made from Econyl — a regenerated nylon fiber that gives a second life to discarded waste whilst helping to clean up our planet. It is made from recycled nylon recovered fishing nets and other nylon waste such as carpets.
What are the benefits of purchasing sustainable garments?
Our garments are not made from plastic but rather from recycled nylon which reduces the amount of new nylon brought into the world. The benefit of purchasing a sustainable garment is reducing the environmental impact you have on the planet. Responsible consumption is critical to conserving the resources of our planet.
How can the use of recycled plastic within the fashion industry make a difference?
Plastics threaten our oceans and marine life, clogs landfills, and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions that accelerate global warming. By choosing to work with fabrics made from regenerated fibers, we are helping to reduce the use of polymers made from refined oil that contribute to pollution.
