From fishing nets to Pertex fabrics
High performance fabric brand Pertex is introducing new versions of its popular Quantum, Shield and Equilibrium fabrics made from nylon recycled from fishing nets, thanks to a partnership with Bureo.
A certified B Corp, Bureo works with coastal communities in South America to collect discarded fishing nets. These are cleaned, chopped up and spun into NetPlus, a fully traceable 100% recycled nylon 6. Patagonia has invested in the company.
Along with Macpac, Burton Snowboards, Albion Cycling, Jöttnar and others, Patagonia is featuring these Pertex fabrics in its Fall/Winter 2024 collection.
“These fabrics are engineered to be direct replacements for fabrics made from virgin material, not just to be resigned to minor ‘sustainable’ capsule collections,” commented Andy Laycock, Pertex Brand Director. He added that it “allows significant and measurable reductions in fossil fuel reliance and greenhouse gas emissions, whilst helping to empower fishing communities and protect marine ecosystems.”
A comparative life cycle assessment of NetPlus nylon 6 and virgin nylon 6 conducted by SCS Global Services in March 2023 found that production of the recycled polyamide emitted 20% less greenhouse gases, reduced reliance on fossil fuels by 67% and led to energy savings of 68%.
Read up on ocean found vs ocean plastics in textiles here.
Photo by Jürgen Westermeyer courtesy of Bureo
