How Ocean Plastic Is Collected, Processed, and Worn
Ocean plastic pollution is one of the most urgent environmental challenges we face. But it’s also one of the few where a clear solution exists: collect it, clean it, and put it back into use.
Thanks to advancements in recycling and textile innovation, it’s now possible to take plastic waste from coastal areas and marine environments and transform it into durable, high-performance materials - including recycled swim shorts.
At Blauw, this isn’t a future goal. It’s what we do today.
What Is Ocean Plastic and Why Is It Valuable?
Ocean plastic refers to plastic waste found in or near marine environments, including coastlines, rivers, and ocean-bound waterways. Most of this plastic comes from land-based sources and enters the ocean due to poor waste management, stormwater runoff, or illegal dumping.
Rather than letting this waste break down into microplastics and harm marine ecosystems, we work with certified supply chains to recover and reuse it. This approach creates value from a harmful material and contributes to a more circular economy.
The benefits of reusing ocean plastic include:
- Reducing pollution: Removes waste from ecosystems before it breaks down
- Resource efficiency: Replaces the need for virgin petroleum-based plastics
- Durability: Recycled plastic can maintain excellent strength, flexibility, and moisture resistance
- Scalability: Recovered plastic can be used across multiple industries, from packaging and furniture to textiles and fashion
Can You Make Clothing Out of Ocean Plastic?
The simple answer: YES!
Thanks to advances in material science and textile engineering, ocean plastic can now be transformed into soft, strong, and versatile fibers suitable for use in activewear, outerwear, footwear, and swimwear. The process typically involves collecting plastics, cleaning and sorting them, and then melting them down into pellets that can be spun into yarn.
This yarn performs similarly to virgin polyester, but with a significantly reduced environmental footprint. It can be woven into fabrics that are durable, quick-drying, and comfortable. All essential qualities for products like recycled swim shorts and other performance-focused apparel. Fashion brands around the world are beginning to embrace this innovation, using ocean plastic in everything from sneakers and jackets to sunglasses and accessories.
How We Do It at Blauw
At Blauw, we’ve designed our sustainable swimwear for men around this exact process.
We work with SEAQUAL INITIATIVE, an organization that coordinates the collection of marine litter from coastal areas, beaches, and ocean cleanups. While many companies use recycled plastic, most focus on OBP (Ocean Bound Plastic) waste at risk of reaching the ocean but often found up to 50 km inland. SEAQUAL INITIATIVE takes it further by targeting plastic at its most critical point: waste already polluting our oceans, rivers, and shorelines, posing an immediate threat to marine life.
This waste is sorted and processed into SEAQUAL® YARN, a high-performance recycled polyester made from the recovered plastic. That yarn becomes the base fabric for all of our recycled swim shorts, offering the same comfort, durability, and quick-dry performance as traditional swimwear - without the environmental cost.
Our manufacturing process prioritizes:
- Verified supply chains and certified recycled materials
- Minimal waste production through small-batch runs
- Long-lasting construction and timeless design
- Sustainable packaging and carbon-conscious logistics
- Each short sold is also paired with impact: we plant seaweed for every purchase.
Ocean Plastic Is a Resource
While the idea of turning trash into textiles may have once sounded futuristic, it’s already a reality. Recycled ocean plastic has become a valuable raw material used not only in eco-friendly swimwear, but in shoes, furniture, car interiors, packaging, and more.
The key is treating ocean plastic not just as a liability, but also as a resource. By collecting it responsibly and repurposing it effectively, we can reduce pollution, extend material life cycles, and design better products with lower impact.
At Blauw, we’re proud to be part of that solution. And we’re even prouder to know our customers wear that impact. Looking good above the surface, and doing good below it.