With the shocking news that high street fast fashion giant Primark has launched a range of cheap wetsuits, comes the time to reinforce the message that every purchasing decision you make influences the lives of people, animals and ecosystems on the planet.
As more of us seek to find solace in the outdoors, it's a love and appreciation for nature that takes us there. The humble wetsuit is already a global environmental problem in its own right. But as fast fashion outlets race to capitalise on surfing and the watersports world post-pandemic, are we about to see ‘single-use’ surf culture explode at a time when we all should be contributing to positive purchasing change?
Primark has launched a range of cheap wetsuits
Landfill consequences
Once a wetsuit has reached the end of its functional life - whether it lived up to its function or not - people don’t know what to do with them.
According to B Corp retailer Finisterre, around 380 tonnes of old wetsuits end up in landfill every year. To date, wetsuit recycling remains a challenge as it’s not possible to obtain raw neoprene from existing neoprene.
Patagonia has been working hard to create an alternative ‘eco-wetsuit’ made from Yulex, a natural plant-based rubber, since 2016. More recently, Finisterre has been working towards creating the world’s first recyclable wetsuit.
So, how can we reduce the impact of wetsuits on the environment?
It’s only waste when we throw it away
As consumers, there is so much we can do to reduce the impact of wetsuits on the environment. We have a choice when it comes to owning and/or using a wetsuit. Discarding a wetsuit into landfill should never happen.
If it’s broken, try fixing it. Wetsuit repair shops can now be found across the country. If it’s still in good shape, donate it to charity that will use it in watersports activities. Kids wetsuits fly off Facebook marketplace and similar online re-use groups. By taking a few moments to list it, you can extend the life of an existing wetsuit and prevent someone from making an unnecessary purchase.
Wetsuit upcycling projects can be found in just a few clicks online, giving you a chance to repurpose your wetsuit into more useful household items such as yoga mats and even oven gloves, so you can do your bit.
Quality wetsuits cost more
Avoiding poorly made and ill-fitting (typically high street) wetsuits, is the best place to start when it comes to eliminating unnecessary neoprene waste. There really is no excuse for resorting to a wetsuit that has been made badly, by poorly paid workers, with no real thought for its purpose.
For a wetsuit to fit well, do its job, and last, it must be designed with a well considered panel layout. This not only means you get a quality product, but it results in the most efficient production methods, minimising waste off cuts. Cheap neoprene has very little stretch, which will cause a poor fit. For a wetsuit to do its job properly, and keep you warm, it needs to fit like a second skin and move comfortably with your body.
If you are looking to invest in a wetsuit, then buy a high-quality, well-manufactured one, made from the most sustainable material and technologies that your budget will stretch to. Avoid wetsuits with neon colourings, as these are the worst for the environment. Black is the most sustainable colour, and a darker wetsuit won’t fade as much as fashion inks.
Only need a wetsuit for a weekend?
Then hire one. Most surf schools and surf shops near the coast offer wetsuit and equipment hire. The quality of wetsuit you hire will typically be far better than a cheap high street bought one, and a fraction of the price of that - so it will in fact save you money. If you are taking part in an organised water-based activity through an accredited provider that requires a wetsuit, then wetsuits will be included in the booking.
But the kids will grow out of it by next summer?
Join your local Facebook resuse group and pop a shoutout for the wetsuit sizes you are looking for. Chances are someone has one tucked away in the cupboard and hasn’t got around to donating or passing on. Once it’s served its purpose and no longer fits, pass it on again.
The tale of the red ski jacket is a beautifully told story of hand-me-down clothing by Patagonia, from which we can all learn a lesson in our circular economy thinking, especially as parents.
With half a million surfers buying a new suit each year (according to Finisterre founder, Tom Kay), we don’t need high streets exacerbating the problem. But it comes down to educating people before they make a wetsuit purchase. If together we can make sustainable wetsuit purchasing ‘the norm’, then the demand for these products will rise.
If we continue to leave it to others to buy sustainably, there simply won’t be enough of us to make an impact, and cheap, toxic products will continue to fill the shelves of high street stores.