There are institutions all over the world doing fantastic work to push society forward and make our world a better place to live. Think of the daily dedication from museums, zoos, aquariums, observatories, planetariums, state or national parks, science centres, nature centres, and any other formal or informal science setting. To include everyone who works to make advances or provide education in biology, chemistry, or physics, the list is practically endless.

Science Education Day is a fantastic opportunity to express gratitude for everything science has provided us. It’s a chance for anyone to share their passion for science or learn something completely new.

Today we wanted to take a moment to dive into the world of regenerated fabrics: how they came about and their impact on the sustainability of our oceans.

What are regenerated fabrics?

These fabrics are labelled regenerated because of the manufacturing process used on the raw material. It takes otherwise useless materials, like wood pulp and cotton waste, and turns it into a yarn.

When this process was first mass-produced, it was revolutionary for the fabric industry because it empowered them to introduce fine and beautiful looking fabrics, but at affordable prices.

Modern-day regenerated fabric solutions

Thanks to constant advances in fabric production, we have high-end recycled fabrics that can be used to make swimwear and other clothing. ECONYL® regenerated nylon yarn is made from waste material such as fishing nets and old carpets.

Instead of being disposed of in a landfill, these waste materials are recovered and regenerated using a complex chemical-physical process.

How does this improve our world?

Plastic and other ocean waste is a constant threat to the delicate ecosystem balance of oceans all over the world. Here are some alarming statistics to consider:

  • 8 million tons of wastes end up in the ocean every single year.

  • 640 thousand tons of fishing nets are abandoned at the bottom of the ocean.

  • At our current rate of pollution, our oceans will contain more rubbish than fish.

The services the ocean provides to our environment are absolutely paramount to our wellbeing. The ECONYL® process takes ocean waste and turns it into something wearable, removing ocean waste and protecting marine life at the same time.

Innovative solutions like this one are a step in the right direction and should be encouraged wherever possible. It’s something we can all be grateful for on International Science Education Day.

When we design our high-quality swimwear, we do it with sustainability in mind. We want the generations of the future to live in a world with clean and sustained oceans. Our high-tech Black Pack swimwear range is perfect for the beginner to the professional swimmer and is made using life-saving ECONYL® yarn. You can shop our full range here.