Only 10% of all plastic has ever been recycled - let that sink it for a second. That means that all 90% of the single-use plastic in the world ends up in a landfill (or even worse, in our oceans). According to UNESCO, the intergovernmental oceanic commissions, “Plastic waste makes up 80% of marine pollution, and around 8 to 10 million metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year.” They estimate that there are currently around 50-75 trillion pieces of plastic and microplastics (plastic particles) in the ocean. This has detrimental effects on marine ecosystems, habitats and life as animals often ingest them or become entangled in them.
Today is Global Recycling Day, but everyday is Recycling Day for us here at Wolven. All of our activewear, swimwear and workwear is made from recycled water bottles to make our signature rPET (recycled polyethylene terephthalate). The production of our rPET fabric starts with the collection of water bottles, which are shredded into tiny flakes and washed. These tiny flakes are then processed to create pellets, which are then put through spinnerets to turn the pellets into yards of fabric. The rPET fabric is now ready to be cut and turned into our Wolven designs (each pair of Wolven leggings is made from 27 recycled plastic water bottles!)
How does our rPET fabric help the environment?
Aside from cutting down on waste from single use plastic, our rPET fabric helps the environment in other ways as well. Using an rPET fabric emits around 79% less emissions than creating a virgin polyester fabric. The energy used to create rPET fabric is about 33-53% less than what it is to produce virgin polyester.
Tips to alleviate the plastic crisis:
- Don’t recycle anything smaller than your fist. This may seem counterintuitive, but size matters when it comes to recycling. Mixing small items in with your recycling can cause big problems for recycling centers and causes machines to jam. According to Montgomery County, Maryland’s recycling center, this issue can shut down machines 10–15 times a day. Help streamline the recycling process by being mindful of items that you are throwing in your recycling bin.
- Shop in bulk. Buying in bulk not only saves you money, but also reduces plastic use. Fill up mason jars with pantry staples such as oil, grains, rice, sugar and pasta to help back on your plastic consumption.
- Shop at a refill shop. Refill shops are popping up all over the country. These eco-friendly stores sells everything from olive oil to laundry detergent. All you do is fill up a glass container with the amount of product that you need. This is a great option for people that don't want to buy in bulk, but still want a sustainable shopping option.
- Bring a glass container to restaurant for leftovers. We used to never bring reusable bags to the grocery store and now it is totally normal. So why not bring reusable containers to restaurants? So many restaurants are still using plastic to-go containers (or even worse, using styrofoam), so why not be sustainable and proactive and bring your own glass container to pack that last taco in?
- Purchase second hand items. So many new items these days come wrapped in unnecessary plastic. Check out marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace or your local thrift store to find used items that are not wrapped in a shell of plastic. Plus, you can save some cash buying used items!
- Use bamboo toothbrushes. Over one billion plastic toothbrushes get thrown out each year. For a more sustainable option, choose toothbrushes made with bamboo handles and natural bristles.
- Look for products that are not bottled in plastic. It may seem challenging to think of replacing your body wash and shampoo bottles with a plastic-free option, but did you know they even make bar shampoo these days? Opt for package-less body care and cleaning products that are in bar form or in glass containers.
- Shop at sustainable companies like Wolven. Even though fast fashion is on the rise these days, more companies than ever are putting a stop to this over-consumption trend. Choose to support sustainable companies like Wolven that truly care about the environment.
Happy Global Recycling Day to all and remember - change starts with you!
