Material technology specialist PrimaLoft Inc. and environmental organization Parley for the Oceans have formed a strategic partnership that will reclaim plastic intercepted from remote islands, beaches and coastal communities to manufacture high-performance insulation products.
PrimaLoft will be the first insulation provider in the textile industry to partner with Parley to develop products from marine plastic waste. In addition to the material PrimaLoft sources, the company also supports Parley in its projects preventing ocean pollution around the world.
“This collaboration with Parley is a perfect match,” PrimaLoft president and CEO Mike Joyce said. “We both have the same goals: reducing the plastic pollution on our planet, especially in the oceans. Avoiding the production of new fossil oil-based materials wherever possible is also a top priority. After the launch of PrimaLoft Bio and proving that our fiber is ready to be utilized in a circular economy, this is another important part of our sustainable efforts.”
The organizations noted a United Nations report that said 8 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean every year, which has a negative impact on marine life, costing the lives of 1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals yearly. In addition, each year plastic causes $8 billion in damage to marine ecosystems. Parley and PrimaLoft said they are committed to taking action that will positively impact this significant environmental issue.
Parley now operates a pioneering global supply chain and Cleanup Network across 28 countries, intercepting plastic waste from beaches, islands and in remote coastal communities.
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“Parley Ocean Plastic is a trademark for a range of premium materials to turn products into Symbols of Change and fund our battle against marine plastic pollution,” Cyrill Gutsch, founder and CEO of Parley for the Oceans, said. “The enormous success of our partnerships with brands like Adidas and Stella McCartney, internationally renowned athletes, artists and entertainers has had a carry-over effect on the whole industry.”
Gutsch said, “Recycling is now sexy, desirable and stands for meaningful design. Purpose is the new luxury. Today we welcome PrimaLoft as an official Parley supply chain partner to our global network, adding new high-performance material types to our portfolio and drastically supporting the growth of our movement for the oceans.”
Joyce said using upcycled marine plastic waste to create insulation that meets the high-performance standards customers expect from PrimaLoft presents a special challenge.
“Sourcing high-quality raw materials is essential to the development of our insulations and marine plastics are often lacking that level of quality,” he added. “Together with Parley, our engineers have developed a method that allows for marine plastics to produce insulation products that meet our high-performance standards.”
Parley for the Oceans has formed alliances with major corporations and nations including Adidas, Anheuser Busch InBev, American Express, the UN, the Maldives and collaborators spanning the worlds of science, art, fashion, design, entertainment, sports, space and ocean exploration.
PrimaLoft is based in Latham, N.Y., with offices in Munich and Xiamen, China. Its products are used in the global outdoor and fashion brands, home furnishings, work wear, hunting and military applications. PrimaLoft is active in sustainable textile production through partnerships with the Bluesign system, Oeko-Tex, the Higg Index and the Global Recycled Standard.