SailGP, Mover Partner for Plastic-Free Sportswear
SailGP, a rapidly growing sports league on the global stage, has unveiled an inspiring, purpose-driven partnership with Mover, a trailblazer in the realm of 100 per cent plastic-free sportswear. Together, they are pioneering the world's first plastic-free technical sportswear.
In a 2023 survey conducted by SailGP, encompassing 1,500 respondents from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland, a resounding 72 per cent expressed a preference for plastic-free sportswear if it were readily available.
This groundbreaking collaboration between SailGP and Mover marks the release of a capsule collection for immediate purchase and promises the future development of a line of high-performance sportswear designed for athletes to test in a sailing environment.
The capsule collection comprises six distinct items, including t-shirts, polos, and fleece hoodies, all meticulously crafted from 100 per cent natural fibres. Notably, these sportswear pieces boast plastic-free stitching and labelling, in addition to water-based printing techniques.
What makes this initiative truly remarkable is its challenge to the conventional norms prevalent in the sportswear and apparel industry. Typically, synthetic fibres are promoted as the sole solution for meeting the technical demands of high-performance clothing.
Globally, synthetic fibres such as nylon, polyester, and acrylic account for a staggering 69 per cent of all fibres in use, with projections indicating this figure could rise to nearly 75 per cent by 2030. These fibres, derived from fossil fuels, are significant contributors to primary microplastic pollution and the escalating plastic waste crisis.
Fiona Morgan, SailGP's Chief Purpose Officer, expressed the league's ambitious drive to become the world's foremost purpose-driven and sustainable global sport and entertainment platform.
She highlighted the importance of innovative collaborations with like-minded partners, making this union with Mover a significant milestone. Morgan emphasised the shared commitment to redefining sports performance clothing with the use of plastic-free materials, aligning with their collective mission for change.
By putting plastic-free technical sportswear to the test in some of the world's most challenging environments, this pilot project aims to demonstrate that high-performance textiles can be achieved without relying on fossil-fuel-based fibres.
Nicolas Rochat, CEO and Founder of Mover acknowledged the partnership as a remarkable opportunity to showcase that natural fibres can excel in one of the most demanding sports on the planet. The materials utilised are engineered to be not only highly technical but also ecologically responsible.
The partnership between SailGP and Mover enjoys the endorsement of A Plastic Planet, an organisation dedicated to inspiring worldwide reductions in plastic usage.
Sian Sutherland, the Founder of A Plastic Planet, stressed the significance of this collaboration. She noted that while the plastic crisis may seem daunting, Mover's initiative exemplifies that technical performance textiles made from natural, breathable materials not only provide superior comfort but also significantly reduce plastic pollution associated with every wear and wash. She expressed pride in uniting Mover with SailGP to demonstrate that change is indeed possible.
The survey further revealed that 54 per cent of respondents lacked awareness or had uncertainty about the health and environmental impacts of chemicals used in synthetic technical clothing.
Synthetic fabrics involve various chemicals in their treatment, some of which raise concerns. This includes the carcinogen antinomy and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as 'forever chemicals' due to their toxic, persistent, and bioaccumulative nature in the environment.
Recycled polyester, often touted as a solution, proves problematic as it emits the same toxic substances as virgin plastic, such as Bisphenol A (BPA), which is known to cause developmental issues, severe eye damage, respiratory irritation, skin allergies, and reproductive harm.
The Mover capsule collection is available for purchase at shopsailgp.com or mover.eu and is shipped in eco-friendly, plastic-free kraft mailers.
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Source: Marine Business News
