How Can You Make Swimwear Sustainable?


Most swimwear is made from synthetic materials like polyester and nylon to allow it to stretch and repel water. These are derived from fossil fuels, meaning they won’t biodegrade. However, you can look to recycled materials to reduce environmental impact. Two of the most common recycled swimwear fabrics are Repreve, which is a polyester made from plastic bottles, and Econyl, a nylon made from fishing nets and carpets. It is unfortunate that swimwear can cause damage to the very environment it allows you to enjoy, but thoughtful shopping and better washing can limit a bathing suit’s impact. What do you think LiveTribers? How can you make swimwear sustainable?

Posted by on 30 Jan 2023

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  • [0] [0]
    richardli

    i will try to choose swimmer made by sustainable materials

    Posted by richardli on 19 Feb 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    Guntis

    Go without it !

    Posted by Guntis on 13 Feb 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    Jay

    I will definitely go for sustainable swimwear after I've read of it.

    Posted by Jay on 10 Feb 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    squeekums1

    I dont care if it is or not I want styles and colours i like, i also want the material to feel nice and stuff made form nets or bottles just dont sound like it would feel nice Plus i wont pay a green tax where they slug more for a basic item just cos it 'sustainable'

    Posted by squeekums1 on 10 Feb 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    kendallx3

    Considering I don't use swimwear often, I'll continue to wear the ones I currently have, which are probably about 10 years old. Best to continue using them, rather than buying any new ones.

    Posted by kendallx3 on 06 Feb 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    yelsha42

    I don't go swimming, so have no need.

    Posted by yelsha42 on 06 Feb 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    Ratchet77

    It's simple, I wear cotton sport shorts and a cotton t-shirt, they last longer than swimwear. Only thing is the chlorine and other chemicals make the colour fade. It's cheaper and it also strengthens your muscles as it has more drag when swimming. I save wearing my swimmers for comps etc. If out with mates its the t-shirt and shorts.

    Posted by Ratchet77 on 01 Feb 2023
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    Paula

    I would love to know how much energy is required to turn recyclable products into new ones. I can repair or remake old clothes but in order to do so I require more fabric and materials. Not to mention the man hours involved, and sometimes the cost simply isn't worth the time and trouble. There is a draw even line out there somewhere.

    Posted by Paula on 01 Feb 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    mact

    Years ago nylon based swimwear and the elastic used in them used to last at least 5years sometimes more depending how often you visited chlorinated pools. These days you're lucky if you get one season out of polyester/nylon and elastomeric mixed fabrics no matter how well you look after the bloody things. Built in obsolescence rules as in most other first world consumables!!!

    Posted by mact on 31 Jan 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    Raskel

    Having swimwear for a few years and looking after them. Why would you need new swimwear each year? Maybe for professional swimmers but not for the average person.

    Posted by Raskel on 31 Jan 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    CILLY0

    I no longer go swimming, so therefore no swimsuit. Buying only one and making it last for a few years was the other way I reduced landfill and use of plastic materials.

    Posted by CILLY0 on 31 Jan 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    smurfgirl

    Swim nude, no need for swimwear then, just need lots of sunscreen or swim at night! Only joking.

    Posted by smurfgirl on 30 Jan 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    apeattie

    I'm not convinced that the manufacturing processes of these recycled materials is any less than that of other materials. So is it really that sustainable? If people looked after their bathing suits properly and washed at the right temperature and didn't need multiple suits that could be more sustainable

    Posted by apeattie on 30 Jan 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    jennifer

    saw a show on geographic,recycling,it was two mates,who don,t know how,but were making swimmers from small part material,mostly plastics recycled from the sea drifts,which i thought was fantastic

    Posted by jennifer on 31 Jan 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    milli

    sustainable textiles like organic cotton, hemp, linen, wool, bamboo, Tencel and more.

    Posted by milli on 30 Jan 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    Maryam

    Just don’t unnecessarily buy stuff when not needed.

    Posted by Maryam on 30 Jan 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    ryan

    The best way is to just use them till they get old. I usually get a few years out of my bathers, and I buy my boardshorts second hand and just look after them.

    Posted by ryan on 30 Jan 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    Simone

    Not an easy one. But perhaps being more Aware of where the fabrics are sourced what practices are used to produce the material and how the entire value chain can look at reducing the impact

    Posted by Simone on 30 Jan 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    Petal21

    Not an easy one, but I'm sure someone smart will find a way soon. Maybe using biodegradable fibre like bamboo?

    Posted by Petal21 on 30 Jan 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    Jessica

    Swimwear generally isn't able to be bought / sold secondhand due to hygiene reasons, so perhaps something to address this (a service or product to replace the lining; or a dedicated recycling service so that the material at least gets reused or made into other products) would help make it more sustainable too - changing size or taste is a huge contributor to wastage in the fashion industry and "intimate" apparel such as swimwear and undergarments can't be sold on eBay / donated to op shops / etc so alternative solutions need to be found.

    Posted by Jessica on 30 Jan 2023
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    Christine

    Bamboo seems to be a more sustainable option. You don't need to buy new swimwear every year if you look after them.

    Posted by Christine on 30 Jan 2023
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    Scott

    I understand that a lot of swimwear have reduced in size and now uses less of any material, but I think if swimwear was at least made with recycled products it would towards reducing environmental impact.

    Posted by Scott on 30 Jan 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    mid

    Buy good quality, classic swimwear that lasts longer

    Posted by mid on 30 Jan 2023
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    tassiegirl

    By buying products made with recycled fabrics. By buying better quality swim wear. By recycling the old swim wear through op shops. You can recycle clothes through Sussan and they give you a voucher to buy some new clothes.

    Posted by tassiegirl on 30 Jan 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    Tabsta

    Have a buy back scheme

    Posted by Tabsta on 30 Jan 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    RED770

    the best way to make swimwear more sustainable is simply not to wear it and bathe nude

    Posted by RED770 on 30 Jan 2023
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    Alex!20

    I have seen many hemp clothing products and I think they are great.

    Posted by Alex!20 on 30 Jan 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    Farrukh

    Anything that is sustainable be it swimwear is good for the environment.

    Posted by Farrukh on 30 Jan 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    Kittykato

    I really don't think swimwear is our biggest environmental problem!

    Posted by Kittykato on 30 Jan 2023
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    TASK

    We should be looking into hemp.products for more sustainable clothing alternatives, I have seen many hemp clothing products and I think they are great.

    Posted by TASK on 30 Jan 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    Martin

    My Irish grandmother used to love knitting and once made a crocheted natural wool swimsuit for my young sister. It wasn't great for suntans...leaving blotches on the skin (my sister looked like a chess board) and she said it felt very heavy when taking a swim in it... but at least it was sustainable.

    Posted by Martin on 30 Jan 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    Rachel

    When you dry your swimwear out in the sun for hours it fades. Maybe if you dry it another way then it can be kept for longer

    Posted by Rachel on 30 Jan 2023
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  • [0] [1]
    Spiderwoman

    Plastic particles washed off from products made with synthetic materials contribute up to 35% of the primary plastic that is polluting our oceans. Every time we do our laundry, an average of 9 million microfibres are released into wastewater treatment plants that cannot filter them. *I recommend swimming at the nudist beach.* If you must wear a costume, gentle handwashing is the best way to reduce microfibre release; Repreive and Econyl included. Added bonus: your costume will last longer as a result of this, too.

    Posted by Spiderwoman on 30 Jan 2023
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  • [2] [1]
    Jigsaw

    Im so over everything having to be sustainable!

    Posted by Jigsaw on 30 Jan 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    ml19

    At present, it is hard as most sustainable fabrics do not always make good swimwear that looks and feels good when worn wet. I spend lots of time in the water and I want swimwear that will not embarrass me when I get out of the water. I admit I only replace swimwear when it is not longer good to wear or fit for purpose.

    Posted by ml19 on 30 Jan 2023
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    Tara Rata

    Bamboo seems to be a good alternative to clothes, may as well see how it goes for swimwear.

    Posted by Tara Rata on 30 Jan 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    Taniqua

    Picking eco friendly and sustainable textiles like hemp, linen, bamboo, organic cotton ect. Using recycled fabrics to make your eco swim wear.

    Posted by Taniqua on 30 Jan 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    Tab

    Recycle your own swimwear every year. Save money and help the environment. Dont waste time trying to invent more eco swimwear and work on curing cancer.

    Posted by Tab on 30 Jan 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    sandra

    Until science can come up with a more sustainable solution I think we need to remember the saying 'reduce, re-use, recycle'. We don't need a new swimsuit every season, we can reduce consumption by buying less often and re-using and if size changes, don't forget to recycle through an op shop for someone else to wear.

    Posted by sandra on 30 Jan 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    mdbc

    Not sure about making it sustainable, there are products out there that can be used but as a society we are throwing out so many useable and reusable products that we should be worrying about landfill and how we are disposing of so much when you look at a tip or waste site its just scary how much we throw out

    Posted by mdbc on 30 Jan 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    wrestling collector

    I think this problem is pretty low on the list of priorities.

    Posted by wrestling collector on 30 Jan 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    Reznor

    no you can not

    Posted by Reznor on 30 Jan 2023
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  • [2] [0]
    tutti_cutie

    Well if people bought better quality swimwear it lasts for years rather than buying and throwing away every season. I have a bikini that I bought when I was 22, I’m 37 now and it still fits and still in great condition as I’ve looked after it. When it comes to clothing you need to look at the process of manufacture as well as the actual material. You’ll probably find that the process is more polluting which is more of the issue, same with EVs

    Posted by tutti_cutie on 30 Jan 2023
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  • [1] [1]
    Peter

    All clothing, not just swimwear needs to come under consideration regarding its environment impact. I notice that bamboo is being used more in the production of clothing. Is there bamboo swimwear?

    Posted by Peter on 30 Jan 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    ere

    As most swimwear nowadays is fairly skimpy there are more important things to worry about than if it's sustainable or not. Focus on the big issues in life, be less woke, and the small problems will become insignificant problems.

    Posted by ere on 30 Jan 2023
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