PrimaLoft launches insulation with ocean bound plastic

PrimaLoft Inc., a global leader in advanced material technology, takes another important step forward on its Relentlessly Responsible™ mission with the launch of PrimaLoft® Insulation with Ocean Bound Plastic. The most recent invention keeps plastic garbage from entering the ocean by producing high-performance insulation from at-risk plastic that has been gathered close to coasts. Swedish companies Isbjörn and Helly Hansen will be the first to utilise the new insulation in their FW23 designs.

A high-performance insulation called PrimaLoft® Insulation with Ocean Bound Plastic is produced entirely of post-consumer recycled materials, with 60% of those recycled materials coming from plastic bottles that were sourced within a 50 km/30 mi radius of coastal locations.  Prior to entering the ocean, at-risk plastic can still be sourced, preserving its ability to be turned into superior PrimaLoft insulation and keeping it out of marine habitats.

OceanCycle, a social organization dedicated to minimizing ocean plastic waste and enhancing the standard of living in coastal communities through certification and direct social interventions, has validated the procedure. In order to guarantee the material’s close proximity to coastlines, ethical sourcing, and end-to-end traceability — documented from collection through to manufacturing — OceanCycle certification offers independent, third-party verification.

The goal of PrimaLoft’s Relentlessly Responsible™ initiative is to advance sustainability and performance via innovation.

Tara Maurer-Mackay, senior vice president for product strategy, said that their most recent innovation is a significant improvement for the environment and the recycling supply chain. Once exposed to the environment in ocean water, the quality of plastic quickly declines, rendering it useless for the majority of recycling activities. They are able to use the material to make goods that give their brand partners’ and customers the optimum combination of performance and versatility with a reduced impact on the environment by absorbing plastic garbage before it can reach the ocean.