220 Triathlon were in London today for the launch of leading swimwear brand Zoggs' new Ecolast range.
With the first suits and jammers on sale in July this year, the range is made from Econyl yarn, which is made from reclaimed ghost fishing nets (nets that have been abandoned or lost at sea and pose a harmful threat to ocean wildlife), old carpet and industrial waste.
These materials are put through a process that returns them to raw materials that can then be turned into polymers and finally yarn, creating a thread which Zoggs tell us is high quality, soft to touch, slightly compressive and durable enough to last 15 times longer. It is also resistant to sun cream and oils.
Gold-medal ambassador
Zoggs ambassador and Paralympic gold-medal winning athlete Suzie Rodgers MBE was at the launch. “I lived in Egypt as a child and swam in the Red Sea, so my love of swimming began in the open water,“ she told us.
"What I love about being a swimmer outdoors is that freedom, the almost meditative state you can find. This is a great initiative from Zoggs and an opportunity to show children and the next generation how to swim, but also how to look after the planet. I pledge to only wear Ecolast products when I swim, to help protect one of our most beautiful and precious resources.”
Promise for the future
Zoggs have revealed that in 2019 around 40% of their swimwear will be made from Ecolast and that they will donate 10% of Ecolast profits to charity. They are also reducing the plastic used in their goggle packaging by 57% from 2019 and are aiming for 100% of their packaging to be sustainable by 2020.
See the current Zoggs product range at www.zoggs.com. We'll be reviewing the new swimsuits and jammers in 220 as soon as press samples are available.
