Plastic Pandemic

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While we feel like a problem with the use of plastic is worse then even, COVID-19 made us practically live on takeouts with multiple layers of plastic and drink coffee only from the plastic cups from the nearest cafe. Shopping online became an only option, so piling up cardboard and plastic packaging is a new (or not really) normality. And let’s not forget that the use of plastic masks and gloves leads to even more pollution of streets and oceans.

Face masks gloves and other discarded plastic in the Red Sea.

To compound the problem, the recycling industry was hit particularly hard with the rise of pandemic. Even before the pandemic recycling infrastructure was at risk, as there wasn’t enough demand on recycled materials. 2020 really exacerbated all of the issues with plastic, BUT also brought out so many possibilities on the matter.

Of course, such enormous problems won’t be solved by our reusable totes and recycled polyester leggings, but more and more companies are trying to find solutions for it with their new eco-friendly designs and services. As the problem grows, grows the recycled plastic approach. Fashion is often one of the first to pick up any trends in society and encourage anything that is good for ecology, as well as for economy.

“Recycled plastic is still a very important approach in fashion,” says Cyrill Gytsch, the founder of Parley for the Oceans, which in 2011 made a revolution in clothing and accesories made from ocean plastic. They were a part of numerous collaborations (for example with Adidas) that are changing the industry now. During the collaboration with Adidas, they also worked with talented Stella McCartney who created the designs for shoes and activewear. In their opinion there is no more excuses to make new plastic, as we can work with recycled materials.

Ocean plastics go high-fashion with Stella McCartney - Impact Alpha

This “plastic pandemic” creates endless possibilities and the ways to work with it. Tom Ford, for example, said the best non-toxic alternative to thin-film plastic will be awarded the Tom Ford Plastic Innovation Prize that comes with $1 million. He also introduces his own spin on the lux recycled plastic usage. An ocean-plastic watch made entirely of recovered plastic bottles.

Tom Ford Launches Eco-Friendly Timepiece and Plastic Innovation Prize | V  Man

If you are one of those who are not sure how their actions can possibly make a difference, this is about time when your fashion choices will do it for you. We used our resources to create plastic, now it’s time to create something out of plastic we no longer need. We simply can’t afford any more waste, or COVID will only be the first taste of a life we chose to live.

Sources:

https://www.parley.tv/#fortheoceans

https://www.vogue.com/article/plastic-waste-pandemic-recycling-innovations-alternatives

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