Page 48 - Plastics News December 2022

Luggage Line Repurposes Waste Plastic
always delivered design with pur-
pose, so we set out on a mission to
create a luggage collection to meet
the needs of travelers who choose us
for our stylish design and eco-friend-
ly business practices.”
Solo’s Re:cycled Collection turns dis-
carded plastic bottles into rPET yarn
through a process the company said
uses 50% less energy and 20% less
water while producing 60% less air
pollution. The company’s goal is to
recycle 40 million bottles from land-
fills by 2024, according to its website.
More than a half-trillion plastic bot-
tles were sold in 2020, the company
claimed, with more than 80% ending
up in landfills or oceans.
The new bags even come in what
Solo calls its Leave No Trace pack-
aging, also made from recycled plas-

ake a trip with this new luggage wheel or spinner, carry-on or check- tic. Furthermore, the company said
Tline, and you’ll also be giving in styles and come with a five-year that for every eco-friendly bag sold
used plastic bottles a one-way ticket warranty. from the collection, Solo will plant
out of the ocean or landfill. “We are proud to premiere one of a tree to help replenish US forests.
Customers who sign up to take the
New York’s Solo has unveiled six new the most sustainable luggage collec- company’s pledge to go 30 days free
bags as part of its Re:cycled Collec- tions on the market at a time when of plastic bottles will have a second
tion, each made from recycled PET, green travel choices are more im- tree planted in their name through
ocean-bound plastic water bottles, portant than ever,” said Solo CEO the National Forest Foundation.
and recycled ABS from appliances Richard Krulik. "Solo has always ap-
and automobile parts. pealed to environmentally conscious Solo products are available at more
than 21,000 retail locations.
Solo’s first luggage line, the bags are travelers. Our backpacks, duffels, hy-
available in soft- and hard-side, two- brid bags, and tech accessories have

Biodegradable Footwear: One Big Step for Sustainability

step toward stomping out plastic substitute for the durable, flexible,
waste with its 100% biodegradable soft, and smooth materials that foot-
— not to mention cinnamon-scented wear companies depend on. BioCir
— BioCir Slides, made of the com- can be injection molded or 3D print-
pany’s new BioCir elastomer. ed and scaled in production like tra-
BioCir offers the fashion industry a ditional materials.
fully compostable and biodegradable The slides, colored and scented using
ased in Tel Aviv and founded in alternative to currently used plastics. natural cinnamon, are designed and
B2020, Balena has taken a giant The material is made to seamlessly manufactured in Italy; the first 1,000

48 PLASTICS NEWS December 2022