When Hurricane Sandy devastated northeastern coastal communities, one Easton company took particular notice. Eco Swim by Aqua Green is a maker of swimwear made of recycled plastics. Sustainability is “important to our company,” says Caroline Shaw, “but beyond that there is an environmental message and awareness that we want to promote. Sustainability is not just about the product, but about the actions behind the brand.”
So in Sandy's wake, Aqua Green has pledged to host a minimum of 13 beach cleanups in 2013. Partnering with its retailers and United By Blue, a Philadelphia maker of sustainable apparel, Aqua Green has removed tons of trash since 2011 in locations as varied as the Delaware River in Easton, the Gulf coast in Tampa, lakes in Seattle and Minnesota, the Arkansas River in Little Rock and the Atlantic coast in South Myrtle Beach.
“When our great grandfather started this company 72 years ago, the oceans and beaches were cleaner places. Four generations later, in a world with polluted water and dirty beaches, Eco Swim by Aqua Green is answering a call to restore our oceans' health. By making our swimsuits in the U.S. and using fabrics made from recycled materials, we are reducing our carbon footprint in the sand so that our beaches can be enjoyed by the next four generations,” say the owners of Eco Swim's parent company, Mainstream Swimsuits.
For 2013, the company is expanding with a new line of beach cover-ups made from S.Cafe, a fabric made from recycled coffee grounds, which offers UVA and UVB protection and odor control.
Source: Caroline Shaw, Aqua Green
Writer: Elise Vider