West Employs New Products
To Keep Green 0
West sustainable production developments 2009
In line with West’s existing sustainable products and our commitment towards a greener future we have employed some new products and practices.
West Bio-plastic packaging: 80% biodegradable cornstarch plastic 20% PE
Did you know that some parts of the Pacific Ocean contain six times more plastic than plankton? Ask any surf shop owner and they will tell you that the accumulation of packaging is consistently overwhelming and although this is not a part of the process that the end user often gets to see, it’s worth giving a thought to the mountains of plastic that fill up store rooms all over the world.
Traditionally, plastic packaging has been made from petrochemicals which are heavily used worldwide; however, the final disposal of used flexible plastics causes problems. If plastic film is not recycled or disposed of correctly it can be a significant source of litter and create serious problems in waste management.
To combat some of these problems we have employed the use of biodegradable cornstarch plastic bags for all our packaging. The cornstarch bags perform equally to traditional plastic packaging being light weight, relatively imperviousness to gas and water but crucially it will reduce the amount of toxic waste and space in landfill as the material biodegrades in a fraction of the time.
West Eco-Lycra : 6 oz 15% bamboo fibers, 85% recycled plastic water bottles UPF 50+
West’s Eco-lycra, derived from bamboo and recycled plastic bottles provides a superior quality fabric while conserving the earth’s valuable resources. Quickly renewable, bamboo grows easily without the use of pesticides and fertilizers; the pulp is bleached without chlorine and is easy to dye, lessening the environmental impact during production.
Another nice feature of bamboo is the natural anti bacterial properties which helps prevent irritation from rash and also reduces the familiar unwanted smells when drying. Bamboo is strong, lightweight and naturally UV resistant; making it a great selection for use in surfing products, expect to see more of this used throughout the west range in the near future.
