A London-based surf brand wants to tackle increasing levels of plastic waste along the UK coastline by transforming it into beachwear
British-based surf brand Riz Boardshorts, working with the Marine Conservation Society’s Marine Litter Action Network, has announced a mission to turn bottles into boardshorts. The company plans to expand its current line of shorts made from recycled polyester to include those made from ocean plastics by 2016.
Research from the University of Georgia suggests an estimated 8m tonnes of plastic is being dumped in the ocean each year: the equivalent to five shopping bags filled with plastic for every foot of coastline in the world. By 2020, the volume of plastic headed towards the ocean is estimated to increase tenfold.
The study emphasised the need to prevent it from reaching the oceans, calling for an increase in recycling and reuse of plastics. But in the immediate term, much can be done to collect the plastic waste, prevent it reaching the ocean and find practical uses for it.
British-based brand Riz Boardshorts, working with the Marine Conservation Society’s Marine Litter Action Network, has announced a mission to turn bottles into boardshorts, expanding their current line of shorts made from recycled polyester to include those made from ocean plastics by 2016.
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Riz Boardshorts are working with charities collecting beach plastics, the recycling industry and clothing brands to develop an action plan taking practical steps towards transforming ocean plastics into beachwear.
Founded by sailor Ali Murrell and surfer Riz Smith, Riz Boardshorts calls itself “a soulful yet sartorial surf brand, produced and sourced in revolutionary ways”.
“We believe in protecting what we love and it is our mission to transform beach and ocean plastics into beautiful products. We are turning to the public to help us achieve this, because we realise that it will take a movement to truly change the industry,” says Murrell.
The Riz team has run a crowdfunding campaign which raised £16,621, exceeding their £15,000 target.
First published by Recycleopedia
