Camira launches transport interior fabrics from marine plastic waste

UK-based textile manufacturer Camira has introduced the transport industry’s first interior fabrics made using marine plastic waste, in partnership with the global Seaqual Initiative. The new Seaqual Collection includes two flat-woven fabrics, Oceanic and Quest, each crafted to bring sustainability to bus and coach interiors without compromising style or durability.

Each metre of fabric in the Seaqual Collection contains up to 35 recycled plastic bottles. When used throughout a fully upholstered coach interior, the collection can divert as many as 2,435 plastic bottles from oceans and waterways.

Ciara Crossan, Camira’s Head of Creative for Transport, explained, “We’re transforming one of the world’s most resilient waste materials into a fabric as fluid as the waves that inspired it.” Already available for use in automotive and commercial interiors, these recycled Seaqual fabrics are now tailored for bus and coach settings, offering a greener alternative with consistent performance and aesthetic value.

The Oceanic fabric features a multi-tonal diagonal twill weave, blending a light warp with a richly dyed weft for dynamic contrast. Quest, on the other hand, showcases a balanced hopsack weave enhanced with discat-dyed Seaqual yarns, delivering a subtle, ocean-inspired look. Both fabrics are up to 42% lighter than traditional plush wool transport textiles, while still maintaining high durability, withstanding over 100,000 Martindale abrasion cycles.

Additionally, Oceanic and Quest are designed with Camira’s Eco FR technology, a patent-pending, halogen-free flame-retardant backing. This innovation enhances safety by creating a protective char layer when exposed to heat, making the fabrics both fire-resistant and environmentally responsible.