What Are The Benefits Of Buying Sustainable Swimwear?
Have you ever thought about the advantages of purchasing eco-friendly swimwear? If not, now is the time to look more closely.
Women are opting to make sustainable purchases in greater numbers.
The advantages are infinite, so take this as your cue to purchase eco-friendly swimwear!
The fashion industry has recently become quite interested in sustainable swimwear. Why?
because some of us are willing to put our money where our mouth is in terms of how much we care about the environment.
We've begun to consider the impact our clothing has on the environment, particularly how it relates to the oceans.
The more people who purchase environmentally friendly apparel, such as bikinis or bathing suits, the less probable it is that their clothing will endanger marine life.
In order to help you decide if buying sustainable swimwear will meet your needs, this piece examines the advantages of doing so.
Continue reading if this interests you!
The Problem With Swimsuits
So why then does swimwear pose such a problem for sustainability? It all comes down to plastic.
Because they remove moisture from the body and stretch to fit the body, synthetic materials like nylon, polyester, and spandex are ideal for swimwear because they lessen friction in the water.
They are also easy to manufacture and adaptable, which is why the fashion industry extensively relies on them for not only swimwear but also activewear, outerwear, and low-cost fast-fashion clothing.
The annual production of these plastic-based materials is estimated at 65 million tonnes.
Plastic can never disintegrate because it is not biodegradable, which is an issue. Instead, it adds to the estimated 8 billion tonnes of plastic that already exist on the world by languishing in landfills or oceans for all time.
This plastic cannot be properly disposed of.
Since plastic is generated from fossil fuels, some nations have resorted to burning it, which releases carbon emissions.
Plastic-based fibres can occasionally get up in the waters of nations with poor waste management systems, where sea life may mistake them for food and suffocate as a result.
There isn't a biodegradable material that possesses all the performance requirements for a bikini, though.
As a result, recycled plastic is the eco-friendly manufacturers' go-to substitute. As a result, an increasing number of swimwear companies employ recycled plastic instead of new plastic to create their items.
The Brave New World of Recycled Plastics
But the use of recycled plastic is limited. One reason is that big businesses aren't geared up to use it. Because of this, it's common to see tiny firms producing swimsuits using recycled fabrics.
Some businesses only started producing swimwear three years ago, using Econyl, a nylon made from recycled materials like industrial plastic that was diverted from landfills and the ocean.
Naturally, it's crucial to keep in mind that recycled plastic is not a perfect answer by itself.
Since there aren't many facilities that recycle synthetic materials, when the client is finished with it, it probably ends up in the trash.
That implies that after a few seasons, the suit will either be burned, landfilled, or end up in the water.
But in practise, there are many trade-offs involved in the pursuit of sustainability.
Swimwear must, after all, withstand a variety of conditions, including chlorine, sea, sunlight, and heat. Therefore, the longer the consumer uses the swimsuit, the longer it avoids being thrown in the trash.
In the Hands of the Customer
Scientists made a frightening discovery about ten years ago:
Small fragments of plastic are released into the water when we wash synthetic materials, and these fragments eventually end up in the ocean.
In addition, residues of microplastics have been discovered in fish, indicating that they have now infiltrated the human food chain.
Although research on microplastics is still in its early stages, preliminary findings indicate that our livers and kidneys are being burdened by these substances.
The fashion industry is not the only one responsible for this issue. But synthetic clothing is a part of it.
Once a product is in the hands of a customer, brands have no control over what will happen to it.
However, some people are attempting to increase awareness of the microplastics issue through their swimsuit campaign.
Some businesses provide clients with advice on how to minimise the discharge of microplastic, such as gently hand-washing synthetic clothing in cold water (which has been shown to release fewer particles than the rigors cycles of a washing machine).
In order to prevent these particles from ending up in rivers, some businesses also provide a bag that traps microfibers when you hand- or machine-wash your synthetic clothing.
However, this is not a sufficient fix. You still need to get rid of the microplastics in the bag, after all.
This requires removing them and discarding them, but as rainwaters sweep these microscopic particles away, they can still wind up in the rivers.
Installing filters on washing machines or in the sewer system to catch microplastics before they reach the water—and then using an industrial equipment to suck up these plastic particles and recycle them—is ultimately the only effective solution to the problem.
All of which are unattainable for the typical consumer.
Many swimwear companies that tout their eco-friendly materials lack an effective programme for assisting clients in recycling their swimsuits.
While it is technically possible to recycle fabrics composed of a single fibre, such as cashmere or cotton, it is considerably more difficult to degrade synthetic materials, which frequently consist of blends of several different fibres.
Sending synthetics to a recycling company that can cut the materials into tiny bits, which may be utilised for other items like home insulation and the stuffing for throw pillows, is currently the best approach to avoid them from ending up in a landfill.
Everyone is ultimately aiming for a moment when it will be possible to recycle fibres made of plastic.
In order to create new fibres that may be utilised to make new clothing, scientists are currently inventing technology that will separate the various fibres in a blend—pulling the nylon apart from the cotton, for example.
This is very similar to the current perfectly circular system we use to recycle paper into new paper or plastic bottles into new bottles.
The entire fashion business could change once we can scale this technology. Theoretically, it would eliminate all future reliance on raw materials by fashion businesses.
While synthetic fabrics now pollute the environment and accumulate in landfills and the oceans, we picture a future in which we completely halt the production of plastic and instead relentlessly recycle the plastic we already have.
There is no one-size-fits-all cure for circularity. Synthetics can be recycled endlessly, which is one of their promising qualities.
What Is Sustainable Swimwear?
Unlike conventional swimwear, sustainable swimwear is produced in a safe environment by workers who are paid fairly.
Many sustainable swimwear manufacturers work hard to give back to charity and local communities. It's frequently made from recycled fibres and uses circular or zero waste procedures.
Materials that are environmentally benign and won't affect marine life are used to make sustainable swimwear.
Sustainable swimwear manufacturers collaborate with vendors who uphold all labour rules and make items in secure facilities.
Additionally, they employ environmentally beneficial production techniques like wind or solar power, which reduce hazardous emissions.
Early attempts to make sustainable swimwear employed recycled plastic bottles to make fabric, but the end product was frequently unsightly.
The most popular method right now is to mix eco-friendly bamboo fibre, which is inherently antibacterial and hypoallergenic, with other fibres.
Why Choose a Sustainable Brand?
We frequently live in and for our clothes, but we are not as knowledgeable about how they are manufactured and why it matters as we should be.
A broader understanding of the materials used and the environmental implications can help us make more sustainable decisions, and choosing clothing made from sustainable fabrics is a step in the right direction for those of us striving to balance our interests in fashion with conscious purchasing.
We are thought to wear about 80 billion pieces of clothes annually.
Producing such a massive quantity of materials year after year has a significant negative influence on the environment, including waste and pollution. It also depletes the world's natural resources.
Therefore, investing in products made of sustainable materials will undoubtedly have a number of advantages.
Why Is it Important to Switch?
Every time swimwear made of non-renewable materials is washed, hundreds of tiny bits of microplastic are released into the marine ecosystem, posing a serious threat to fish and other species.
One piece of clothing may release more than 700,000 microfibers per wash, according to some studies.
This plastic isn't just floating around in the sea. As it moves up the food chain, it eventually ends up on our plates.
This study has prompted some textile manufacturers to alter their production procedures in an effort to prevent the pollution of the oceans by microplastics.
Recycled Swimwear FAQs
What Is Sustainable Swimwear Made From?
Many companies use recycled materials like fishing nets and plastic bottles to create swimsuits, bikinis, board shorts, and trunks.
For instance, some businesses prioritise pre-orders in order to avoid stock waste and repurpose material cut-offs from fabrics made from marine plastic trash into new products.
How Can Buying Sustainable Swimwear Help People and the Planet?
Many businesses directly support charities or establish foundations to safeguard both people and the environment.
Therefore, by purchasing sustainable swimwear, you not only support circular design methodologies but also directly defend the workers who make your clothing.
Why Is Sustainable Swimwear Important?
Since the major objective of eco-friendly clothing is to last rather than being lost in one of the infinite fast fashion cycles, it is acceptable to claim that even if many eco-friendly firms employ recycled synthetics, such garments are more durable.
This is the reason why eco-friendly swimwear has gained popularity in recent years.
What Makes a Bathing Suit Sustainable?
It is important to opt for high-quality swimwear created from recycled materials so that no new resources were utilised in its production for more environmentally friendly swimsuits.
For instance, used plastic from items like bottles and fishing nets can be turned into something useful.
What Is the Most Sustainable Swimwear Fabric?
Natural. Natural fibres and recycled fibres fall into two categories when it comes to sustainable swimwear. One of the greenest textiles available is hemp, which is the clear winner in this case.
What Is the Most Ethical Fabric?
Natural Fibres
Recycled Cotton
One of the most popular and widely used fabrics is cotton. This natural fibre is a wardrobe must because it is airy and light.
Organic Hemp
Hemp, one of the oldest fibres in existence, keeps you cool in the summer and warm in the winter and gets softer the more you wash it.
Organic-Linen
Another natural fibre that we have been producing for generations is linen. It comes from the flax plant, which is a very adaptable crop, just like hemp. Because of this, linen requires little water and pesticides, and it even thrives in subpar soil.
Futuristic and Innovative Fabrics
- Tencel.
- Piñatex.
- Econyl.
- Qmonos.
Benefits of Sustainable Swimwear Over Traditional Swimwear
There are microplastics everywhere. They are even present in the air we breathe and our oceans. If you consume seafood regularly enough, there is also reason to suspect that these microscopic plastic fragments may also find their way into your diet.
So What Can Be Done?
You may lessen your carbon imprint on the world by switching to bamboo swimwear, which is naturally antibacterial and hypoallergenic.
By purchasing one of these goods for your upcoming beach trip, you'll be able to feel better about yourself knowing that you're helping to protect our ecosystem.
Additionally, bamboo cloth feels wonderful against the skin, so wearing it is a pleasure!
Sustainable swimwear benefits both the environment and the workers who make it.
They not only utilise healthier products to work with, but materials that are better for the environment.
Every worker in a sustainable swimwear brand's supply chain is given the respect and fair treatment they deserve. This prohibits the use of forced labour or child labour.
All of this results in a higher quality of life for those who get to wear sustainable swimwear as well as for industry employees!
What Are the Implications for This?
By choosing sustainable swimwear over conventional apparel manufactured from non-sustainable fibres, we as customers may significantly influence the industry.
When purchasing a bikini or bathing suit, seek for items produced with eco-friendly fabrics that won't harm marine life. For instance, choose recycled polyamide swimsuits over those made of traditional polyester.
By making this sort of apparel your choice, you may encourage other businesses to produce them by increasing the demand for them.
Where Can You Find Sustainable Swimwear?
Fortunately, it is easy to locate eco-friendly swimwear.
A limited number of internet stores provide a wide choice of bamboo- or recycled-plastic-made styles and sizes.
A excellent place to purchase handcrafted, one-of-a-kind items manufactured by regional craftsmen worldwide, many of whom cater to the eco-conscious community, is Etsy.
You might already live near a store that sells the eco-friendly swimwear you want, given their rising popularity. You'll be astonished by how many brands of eco-friendly swimwear there are now.
Conclusion
The same regions that our food comes from are also where natural materials originate from and exist.
These organic substances can be derived from plants or animals, much like food.
Plant-based fabrics are very much the fruits and vegetables of our wardrobe. Examples include cotton, hemp, linen, and raffia.
If made for sustainable apparel, these materials are frequently organic.
Wool, silk, cashmere, and alpaca are examples of materials derived from animals that are also feasible and ecological choices for apparel.
Our apparel can come from organic and sustainable farms, just like our meat can.
Due to a natural, eco-friendly process, using organic and sustainable fabrics like cotton is better for the environment.
For instance, because less fuel and energy is used during the production of organic cotton, less carbon is produced.
It also aids in reducing water use because it undergoes a chemical-free production procedure.
Some brands frequently go above and beyond their products in their commitment to employing sustainable textiles. Given that the fashion industry is one of the most polluting in the world, firms find fulfilment in fostering their commitment to sustainability.
It demonstrates that the fashion industry is growing more conscious of the influence on the environment, whether they fight to replace the standards advancements and practises or donate to sustainable charity.
