2020 was a year of pause and reflection for the entire world. During this time, nature showed its tenacity and began its journey to rejuvenation. However, as we return to a new normal, nature is faced with a new challenge – single use plastics and face masks. In 2040, the annual flow of plastic into the ocean could nearly triple according to a fresh analysis by the Pew Charitable trusts and SYSTEMIQ.
It’s time for both individuals and organisations alike to step up and apply the concept of a circular economy, reduction, recycling, and better waste management to help counter this prediction. That way, 20 years from now, we will collectively be able to significantly reduce the current estimates of plastic flow into the ocean.
Roughly just 20% of the world’s clothing is collected for reusing or recycling and more than 8 million tonnes of plastic, including harmful fishing nets, end up in our oceans every year. Find out how you can help impact these grim statistics in a positive way by bringing upcycled fashion into your wardrobe. Brands like the Arise Collective are paving the way for change.
What is upcycling?
Upcycling is all about reusing things to create a product of even greater value. So old, unused materials or items get repurposed into something better than before. It’s a little like recycling, because you take old materials and make them into new products.
Upcycling vs Recycling:
Recycling is transforming a used product into a new version of the same thing. For example, recycling magazines into paper to use for printing. Recycling can happen over and over again until the material is no longer usable.
Upcycling means using different products to make something new and even better. For example, upcycling clothes into shopping bags!
5 fun facts about upcycling: aka why should you upcycle?
- Reduce waste. Roughly 35% of materials in the supply chain end up as waste according to the Global Fashion Agenda and the Boston Consulting Group
- Reduce your environmental footprint. According to the Global Fashion Agenda and the Boston Consulting Group, only 20% of the world’s clothing is collected for reuse or recycling.
- Create one-of-a-kind products by upcycling things yourself or buying them from companies who create things from recycled materials.
- Upcycling can save you money! At its most basic form, when you upcycle something yourself you can actually save money.
- Encourage businesses to continue to upcycle and adopt sustainable fashion measures.
Upcycling fashion
Upcycling in fashion and creating ethical, sustainable clothing is becoming more of the norm lately. As younger generations lead the charge in demanding eco-friendly fashion and environmental initiatives from brands, we can expect to see more recycled fashion in the future. Some famous brands leading the charge in the fashion space include:
- Patagonia:The outdoor clothing brand leads the sustainable fashion world having started using recycled plastic bottles to make their garments back in 1993!
- Urban Outfitters: Have a sub-clothing line that revamps deadstock materials that typically end up in landfill into unique clothing pieces
- WWF-New Zealand x Arise Collective: The conservation organisation and eyewear brand joined forces to create upcycled sunglasses called ReefCycle. They upcycled old gill nets hanging across the Great Barrier Reef and cut, melted and moulded them into sustainable sunglasses, unlocking a circular economy in eyewear. Available only at SmartBuyGlasses, you can discover more about ReefCycle here now.
Why you need WWF-New Zealand x Arise Collective ReefCycle upcycled sunglasses:
- Help protect over 98,000 marine animals: It’s estimated that 98,000 and more sharks, dolphins, turtles, dugongs and sawfish are caught by commercial gill nets on Queensland’s east coast every year. Buying a pair of ReefCycle sunglasses keeps commercial gill nets out of our oceans.
- Continue to remove harmful plastics from our oceans: The more sunglasses that are sold, the more proceeds will go towards funding WWF conservation work, like advocacy for a Net-Free North.
- Unique design: Each pair of ReefCycle sunnies features a super cute illustration of one of the marine animals you’re helping to protect on the inner glasses temple.
- Full choice of lens options: The upcycled glasses are available with both non-prescription and prescription lenses as well as polarised or non-polarised options. Plus, choose from a range of colours including black, brown or green tinted lenses.
Take your first foray into this sustainable measure with the upcycled WWF-New Zealand x Arise Collective ReefCycle sunglasses now. Unique, innovative and sustainable, you’re sure to save countless marine creatures and stand out in a pair of these sunnies. Shop them here today or try them on before you buy with SmartBuyGlasses’ Virtual Try-On tool now.
3rd April 2021
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post and the author’s views here do not necessarily reflect those of the blog owner. Threadnz.com occasionally receives monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for mentioning and/or linking to any products and services from this blog.