Sustainability in Action

What can be made with recycled plastic?
2
Shoes &
Clothes
Bags &
Backpacks
Tableware
Home
Items
Children’s
Toys

How can shoes and clothing be made
from plastic bottles?
Recycled
plastic
bottles are
collected
and sorted
The bottles
are broken
down into
small
plastic
flakes
Flakes are
compressed
and spun
into
polyester
thread
Polyester
thread is
woven into
mesh and
other
fabrics

Sustainable Shoe and Clothing Brands
Veja
Uses recycled plastic
bottles to create fabric for
sneakers and all other
materials are sustainably
sourced
Rothy’s
Produces knit shoes made
from plastic bottles and knit
bags made of marine
plastic, helping keep oceans
clean
Girlfriend Collective
Makes a wide variety of
clothes from plastic bottles
and fishing nets and even
has a garment take back
program

How are hard plastic products made from
recycled plastic?
Recycled or
diverted waste
plastic* is
collected. This can
be plastic milk
jugs, fishing nets,
or other plastics
The plastic is
cleaned and
shredded into
small flakes
The flakes are
melted and
extruded into
plastic pellets
These pellets can
then be molded
into various hard
plastic products
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4
*Diverted waste plastic is plastic that is diverted from landfills or the ocean

Recycled Hard Plastic Brands
Green Toys
Uses 100% recycled type 5
plastic, like milk jugs and
yogurt cups, to make
various children’s toys
Bureo
Produces a variety of
products like Jenga,
skateboards, sunglasses and
more from discarded fishing
nets. They also partnered with
Patagonia to provide recycled
plastic for Patagonia products
Preserve
Makes a variety of tableware
and household products out of
plastic caps, dairy containers,
and prescription bottles. They
also have a recycling program
and a takeback program

Why are take back programs useful?
Produce Use Landfill
Produce/
Reprocess
Use
Return
Items
Take back programs
interrupt the linear
economy and prevent
used products from
reaching landfills
Take back programs
“close the loop” using a
circular economy system
to reuse materials

Is Sustainability Profitable?
of the US population
will choose
environmentally
preferable products
when given the choice”
of the general US
population indicate that
they would buy more
environmentally preferable
products and services if
there were more selection
available where they shop”
>50% 49%
According to the Natural Marketing Institute and backed
by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,

What can you do to reuse
plastic at home?
● Plarn (Plastic Yarn): If you have a
stockpile of plastic bags, they can
be cut into strips and crocheted
into a sturdy, long lasting grocery
bag
● Shrink plastic: Type 6 plastic from
clear takeout boxes can be
decorated and shunk in the oven
to create keychains, jewelry, and
more

True or False?
Most Olympic medals and
podiums are made of
recycled materials

True or False?
Most Olympic medals and
podiums are made of
recycled materials
True! - The 2020 medals were
made from recycled
consumer electronics and
the podiums were to be
made of household plastic