Ever heard about ocean plastic?
Recycled materials are exactly that –recycled non-virgin materials with a new life. Circular materials, on the other hand, are bio-based materials that are given a second chance (as opposed to being destroyed and thrown away after their first use).
As you know, reducing plastic consumption is one of the main challenges for curbing climate change. Sadly, too much of our single-use plastic ends up polluting our oceans, with 80% of it coming from land-based sources.
However, we can do our bit to save the oceans by recycling old plastic –and preventing it from ending in our oceans.
When ocean plastic is collected, it is then washed, sanitized and processed into raw material flakes that meet the European and North American quality standards.
The ocean plastic is then transformed into high quality, food-safe recycled plastic you can use as packaging or anything else needing plastic material. The best part? Just because something is made from recycled plastic doesn’t mean it has to be tacky.
For example, Waste2Wear is a company that utilizes 100% recycled plastic to make clothing garments and accessories. You can check out some of their products here. Who knows? Maybe the matching tote bags given out at your next team building will be by Waste2Wear. Which we can help distribute, of course!
Be a hero by recycling paper.
Deforestation has also proven a dangerous threat for the wellbeing of our Earth. As an alternative, and to further avoid deforestation, recycled paper has been introduced to our consumer society. Recycled paper has evolved exponentially in the past decades and can look just as regular as a brand-new piece of paper (if not prettier, if you ask us!).
Recycled paper is made from –you guessed it– wastepaper. To give you an idea, it takes approximately 1,2 tons of wastepaper to produce 1 ton of recycled paper. Conversely it would take around 2,5 tons of wood to produce the equivalent virgin fiber paper.
So, next time you want to write hand-written letters to your employees, choose to do so on a piece of beautiful, recycled paper, dotted with seeds.
Write the perfect message of appreciation while respecting the environment!
Goodbye (virgin) polyester. Hello cotton!
As mentioned above, clothing can also benefit from recycled materials. Whether it be recycled polyester (rPET) or another material, such as cotton. Derived from the fibers surrounding the seeds of cotton plants, cotton is guaranteed to not harm the Earth when it reaches the end of its product life.
Why choose cotton? You see, cotton has a high tensile strength, is very water absorbent, dries quickly and is easy to wash in machine.
Best of all? Cotton fabric is extremely breathable, which diminishes the chances of persistent sweat stains (whoops!). While cotton is perfect for clothes, it’s also sturdy enough for tote bags or even backpacks.
Say, for example, you’re looking to provide your team with uniform polos. Cotton is the way to go –they’ll thank you once they feel how comfortable they feel.
These are just some options of what recycled (or circular materials) can make your life a little more sustainable.
And if you’re looking to make even more changes –we can help you incorporate them into your branded merchandising. Reach out, we’d love to make some magic!
Ready to dive in?
Get in touch with us today.