The Benefits of Sustainable Swimwear

Before we start talking about the benefits of sustainable swimwear, we should first take a look at why it is even necessary to have eco swimwear instead of traditional swimwear. I’ve written a post about the negative impacts of the fashion industry on the environment, but let me sum up some key facts for you:

• 85% of all textile waste ends up in landfills each year, and 95% of these textiles could be reused.
• About 8-10% of humanity’s carbon emissions come from fashion production. Around 48% of fashion’s supply chain is linked to deforestation.
• Every year, about 500,000 tonnes of microfibers are released just from washing clothes.
• Only 2% of garment workers around the world are paid a living wage.

It’s clear from these facts that the fashion industry needs to change. But let’s focus on swimwear here. How can the swimwear industry make a difference, and what are the real benefits of sustainable swimwear?

Traditional Swimwear Fabric

Traditional swimwear is made from synthetic fabrics like polyester, which is derived from petroleum, a non-renewable resource. If we run out of petroleum before finding an alternative, it could lead to a massive energy and transportation crisis. Besides that, the production and use of petroleum-based products contribute significantly to CO2 emissions and are linked to plastic waste and microplastics found in our environment.

Polyester also takes decades, if not longer, to completely decompose, which means landfills fill up quickly (remember the 85% of textile waste), leading to the need for new landfills, resulting in deforestation and habitat destruction. Not good.

Sustainable Swimwear Fabric

So, how does sustainable swimwear differ from traditional options? Let’s look at some of the more sustainable fabrics available:

• Recycled Polyester: This is currently the most common fabric for eco swimwear. Recycled polyester is often (but not always) made from plastic bottles. Recycling an already existing product means we’re not depleting non-renewable resources, which is great! It also means that plastic waste is being repurposed. However, while plastic bottles can be recycled back into plastic bottles, once they’re turned into fabric, they usually can’t be recycled again. This means a valuable resource (the bottle) is essentially lost, as 85% of textile waste ends up in landfills or is incinerated. Recycled polyester also still emits microplastics into the water. Even though there are some downsides, recycled polyester is still a better option than virgin polyester.
• Organic Fabrics: These are generally more sustainable than synthetic fabrics, though they’re not usually suitable for swimwear. Fabrics like cotton are sometimes used, but cotton dries slowly and is not very resistant to chlorine and saltwater. It looks nice, though, so if you’re wearing it more for aesthetic reasons rather than actual swimming, it can be a good option!
• Innovative Fabrics: The fabric industry is continually evolving. Draquis’ swim shorts, for example, are made with an innovative fabric called Amni Soul Eco®. Amni Soul Eco® is the world’s first polyamide yarn with accelerated biodegradability. A special formula was added, enabling it to break down in 3-5 years in landfills, much faster than other synthetic fabrics. This means products made with Amni Soul Eco® will not contribute to the overcrowding of landfills. Additionally, while Amni Soul is still synthetic and emits microplastics, these microplastics biodegrade 20 times faster compared to traditional fabrics! Amni Soul Eco® is a polyamide, which is similar to polyester in that it’s made from petroleum, which isn’t ideal. However, the process of turning this petroleum into Amni Soul Eco® yarn is done with the environment in mind. The company uses a local supply chain, a closed water cycle, renewable energy, and treats its greenhouse gases before releasing them.

Minimising the Environmental Footprint

Most companies that produce sustainable swimwear strive to keep their environmental footprint as small as possible. Not only do they choose more sustainable fabrics like recycled polyester or Amni Soul Eco®, but they also focus on reducing CO2 emissions, optimizing the manufacturing process, and using eco-friendly packaging. Essentially, all aspects of a sustainable company should aim to be as eco-friendly as possible.

Carbon Footprint

To keep CO2 emissions low, some companies choose local manufacturers, which reduces transportation emissions. Some brands work with clothing manufacturers that prioritize energy-efficient processes, and some offset (a part of) their carbon footprint by donating to causes like Ripple Africa. And, of course, some brands do all of these things!

Garment Manufacturers

A brand can’t truly be sustainable if it doesn’t care about the people who make the clothes. Fast fashion companies often choose manufacturers that exploit their workers, resulting in cheap labour and horrible working conditions. Eco companies, on the other hand, choose fair labour practices, pay honest wages, and ensure a safe working environment.

Choosing good quality fabrics and reliable manufacturers results in high-quality and durable clothing, which means your clothes will last longer—making them more sustainable! (I do want to point out that lower-quality manufacturing has nothing to do with the skills of the workers, but rather the conditions they work in. These conditions are maintained by fast fashion companies that prioritize large profits over the health and safety of the workers.)

Sustainable Packaging

Eco-conscious companies use more sustainable packaging than typical fast fashion brands. For instance, they might use recycled packaging, meaning no trees have to be cut down for it, or they might use recycled plastic bags to ship their goods. Some companies even use bio-based synthetic packaging, such as plastic bags made from sugarcane or other natural resources. How cool is that?

Challenges of Sustainable Fashion

Greenwashing

Greenwashing is when companies falsely advertise their products as environmentally friendly. They often highlight one sustainable practice to hide all their other unsustainable practices or even lie about their efforts. This completely misleads consumers into thinking they’re making sustainable choices. For example, big fashion companies may release a “green” collection that uses some recycled material, but often only a small percentage, and the clothes are usually made in low-quality factories where workers are exploited.

How to Spot Greenwashing

One way to identify greenwashing is by looking at the information a company provides. Are they transparent about all aspects, not just the materials they use? An eco-friendly company will be excited to tell you everything they’re doing, so you should be able to find a lot of information about all aspects of their operations. Vague claims are another red flag. Is a company saying they aim to be carbon neutral by 2030 but provides no details on how they plan to achieve it? That’s suspicious. If you’re looking into fashion companies and see that they’re constantly releasing new collections, they’re likely a fast fashion brand. And remember, those aren’t really sustainable. If you can, avoid them!

The Price

Is it true that sustainable fashion is generally more expensive? Yes, it often is. But by now, you have all the information you need to understand why. Using alternative materials can be more expensive, especially if they are unconventional. Paying fair wages to garment workers makes the price of a garment much higher than in factories that don’t care about fair wages (and massively underpay their workers).

Adding in all the additional costs, such as sustainable packaging and carbon offsetting, can raise the price for sustainable companies quite a bit. But you’ll be buying a quality product, which means you won’t have to replace it soon.

So now you know all the benefits of sustainable swimwear and why it is necessary to make this change to more sustainable options! Want to be part of this change?!😊