According to a recent United Nations report, 80% of all pollution in the oceans comes from people on land, and over eight million tons of plastic ends up in oceans each year.  This waste annually costs the lives of one million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals and causes $8 billion in damage to marine ecosystems.

Other studies have estimated that at least five trillion pieces of plastic are floating in the world’s oceans and while a majority of this plastic debris sinks or washes ashore, much of it is floating in five gigantic, slow-moving whirlpools nicknamed Vortexes. The World Economic Forum projects that there will be more plastic than fish by weight in the oceans by 2050 if the current trends continue.

Many companies, organizations and government agencies have advocated moving away from this kind of linear economy (where we make and dispose of plastic) to a more circular system (where we keep plastic in the economy and out of the natural environment).

Many groups have targeted the single-use plastic straw in an effort to reduce plastic waste.  It is estimated that 12 billion straws are used worldwide every year, and they are frequently one of the top 10 items found in beach clean-ups.  While some countries and cities have sought to ban them outright, a number of companies like Starbucks and McDonalds have voluntarily agreed to eliminate or dramatically decrease the use of single-use plastic straws in the coming years.

Another culprit is the plastic bag.  An estimated one trillion bags are used each year globally, and the average American throws away 10 single-use bags per week.  New Yorkers alone use 23 billion bags per year – more than enough, when tied together, to stretch to the moon and back 13 times. Dozens of countries and areas have either banned the use of plastic bags altogether or they have imposed fees to discourage their use.

Click here for an idea of what we are all up against:

Here at Divers Down and in Dive Garage, we are leading the way.

2 years ago, we were the first dive center in the region to stop using “single use plastic”.

As divers and sea lovers, we need to not only do something ourselves, but also persuade everyone that single use plastic is a huge problem. What can we do?

• Carry a reusable water bottle.
• Take reusable bags to the grocery store or market.
• Use reusable utensils, plates, cups and mugs.
• Avoid plastic straws, coffee stirrers and single-use condiment packets.
• Opt for snacks that can be purchased in bulk and stored in reusable containers rather than buying single-wrapped items or using baggies.
• Support organizations that are working to reduce and recycle plastic waste and companies that are acting responsibly.

In Dive Garage, we have recently started working with Fish People, a company who now produce many items of clothing for us – completely from recycled materials. Mostly ocean waste, as well as our most recent collaboration, using recycled coffee grounds.

Our Technical Clothing: https://www.divegarage.com/leisure/tec-apparel.html

All the materials we use are ocean – friendly: 100% recycled or organic and fully compliant with Global Recycle Standard by Textile Exchange.

ORGANIC – Our natural fibers are made from organic materials such as organic cotton, bamboo, hemp & FSC Certified wood pulp.

SUSTAINABLY SOURCED – Made from materials that are sustainably sourced with partners who share our values.

SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE – Fair market prices, charity give-back, made in Europe, safe working conditions and a community value people-first team environment.

BIO-DEGRADABLE – Natural fibers made from organic, pesticide free materials that will decay over time and safely return to Mother Earth.

Recovered Ocean waste plastics and post consumer plastic bottles are collected and brought to an approved recycling facility. At the recycling facility the conversion process of turning waste into wearable fabric begins.

Watch the process:

• A flotation and separation process separates the different types of plastics and in the case of bottles removes the caps and labels from the bottles, as they are made of plastics with different characteristics.
• The selected Polyethylene Terephthalate materials are then processed into flakes.
• After being washed the flakes are melted.
• Yarns are pulled from the melted polyester.
• The result is a clean, valuable, and recycled raw material perfect for the textile fabric production.
• The raw filament yarns are spun into yarn and ultimately woven into variety of different Oceanbalance fabrics.

Our ECO commitment

Recover nylon ghost fishing nets and post-consumer plastic waste from our waterways and Oceans

Greatly reduce the amount of carbon that is used in the production processes

Work with Organisations, Sports Associations & Federations, Universities and Schools in helping educate on the ways we can lead to more sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyles