Most swimwear you’ll find on the high street is crafted from synthetic fibers made from petrochemicals. This means the carbon footprint of a swimsuit or pair of swim shorts is sizeable.
Drilling for petrochemicals causes terrible environmental pollution. In addition, most regular swimwear is manufactured in areas of the word where modern slavery is rife and where there are no environmental controls, meaning that poisonous dyestuffs are often poured into local water supplies.
So what is sustainable swimwear and how is it different to the swimsuits, trunks and bikinis you’ll find on the high street?
Sustainable swimwear, unlike regular swimwear, is made using low-impact materials by people paid fair wages in safe conditions. It’s often crafted from recycled fibers, employing circular or zero waste processes and many sustainable swimwear brands work hard to give back to charities and local communities.
What is sustainable swimwear made from?
Many brands craft swimsuits, bikinis, boardshorts and trunks from recycled materials like fishing nets and plastic bottles. ECONYL nylon yarn generated from fishing nets and other waste material found in our oceans also can be used to make high-quality, durable fabric.
What is unsustainable swimwear?
Often, unless garment labels show clear symbols, certifications and explanations, it can be hard to tell what’s sustainable and what isn’t. Especially when greenwashing is so prevalent in today's fashion industry. It’s always vital to check the care label of your swimwear to see what it’s made from and to look for those certifications.
How can buying sustainable swimwear help people and planet?
Plenty of brands work directly with charities or create their own foundations in order to protect people and planet. By shopping for sustainable swimwear you not only contribute to circular design processes, you also directly protect the people making your clothes.
Credit to Compare Ethics website.
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