Culture
DON’T WASTE IT, WEAR IT: Patagonia’s NetPlus Revolution
8 June 2022Transforming garments with product activism, Patagonia and Bureo's NetPlus fabric is converting one of the most harmful forms of plastic pollution into something you can wear for life.
As fast fashion is steadily loosening its stranglehold on the industry and consumer sentiment is shifting towards cultivating a more sustainable approach to clothing, certain companies and brands are focussing on utilising product activism as a means of doing good, with product development rooted in transparency and traceability.
Striving to change how their clothing is made, Patagonia have sought to take a more ethical and environmentally friendly approach to their manufacturing processes. Working with Bureo – a Tin Shed Ventures-backed company – the outdoor brand have defined their method of product activism by taking aim at the fabrics they use. Utilising Bureo’s NetPlus material, the brand replaces their nylon fabric with a 100% traceable and 100% recycled fishing net material. Delivering their post-consumer recycled material, Bureo transform discarded, end-of-use fishing nets made from nylon and high-density polyethylene to support cleaner communities and oceans by diverting an existing waste stream. Championing recycling as a method to do good and redefine our energy useage, by replacing new plastics with recycled NetPlus fabrics, Bureo reduce the need for further fossil fuel extraction, as well as clean up the ocean.
Working with local communities in Chile, Argentina and Peru, Bureo’s impact has prevented 2.3 million pounds of fishing net waste from polluting our oceans so far, with over 50 communities participating in Bureo net collections. Transforming discarded fishing nets that are collected from coastal communities in South America, the nets are sorted, cleaned and shredded, before being prepared for transport and shipped to Patagonia’s supply chain partner. Recycled and processed into Bureo’s NetPlus yarn, the yarn is woven into fabric and utilised to create premium Patagonia products such as the iconic Baggies shorts.
Tried and tested, technical studies and product testing have proven that NetPlus nylon fabrics boasts material properties that mirror those of entirely new, virgin plastics. Exemplifying the yarn’s exceptional nature, there is no sacrifice in durability, performance or material properties with NetPlus, ensuring that it’s the perfect replacement for new synthetic fabrics.
Producing their classic Baggies shorts with Bureo’s NetPlus fabric for the first time ever, Patagonia demonstrate the ways in which product activism can address issues within clothing manufacturing infrastructure in a positive and ethical way. Building a network of people to transform communities and preserve the environment, product activism is an important step we can take to change our harmful habits with revolutionary solutions.
PATAGONIA BAGGIES SHORTS AT END.
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