Our most popular changing robe, now more sustainable than ever
When we started stocking Dryrobe in 2017, little did we know just how well the waterproof and windproof oversized changing robe would be received in the open water swimming community in Ireland.
A lot has changed since we took delivery of those first Dryrobes, not just in how it is perceived by our customers, but also how it is produced by Dryrobe. In the early days the Dryrobe was greeted with some scepticism (ourselves included). Was it not cheating to throw on a great big coat after your cold water swim? Was standing on the beach shivering and teeth chattering with a gale force wind blowing while trying to hold a towel in one hand and a pair of knickers in the other not an essential part of the whole experience? Of course, it did not take long to become converts - not that our teeth don’t still chatter at times but the speed at which you warm up has increased and no one has to cop an eye full of body parts best left unseen!
Now we wouldn’t visit the beach without our Dryrobe and if we have moved with the times as water users then so too has Dryrobe. As with most large scale clothing production, the manufacturing process and the shipping of product across the world to retailers and consumers leaves a mark on the environment. A number of years back Dryrobe decided to start focusing on sustainability and this journey has led them to becoming B Corp certified. B Corp certification might not immediately resonate so here is a basic rundown of what it actually means.
B Corp Impact Assessment - Scoring 110 points first time round
The assessment focuses on five areas of socially and environmentally responsible practices relating to energy supplies, waste and water use, worker compensation, diversity and corporate transparency. Dryrobe did incredibly well in their B Corp Impact Assessment, the certification process to achieve B Corp Certified status, by scoring 110 points, with 80 points being the benchmark score required.
Made from 100% recycled fibres - inside and out
The Dryrobe Advance changing robe is now made fully from recycled fibres with the first recycled Dryrobe Advance arriving in March 2021. By now, over 95% of Dryrobe stock has been transitioned to this standard.
The weatherproof outer is made with 100% recycled nylon approved by the Global Recycle Standard. The synthetic lambswool lining that makes the high-performance fleece lining is made from 100% recycled polyester (rPET) approved by the Global Recycle Standard and certified OEKO-TEX Standard 100. The important information here is that the polyester used is post-consumer recycled, so it has had a different use before, for example plastic bottles.
Eco-friendly waterproof finishing
Dryrobe use PFC-free BIONIC-FINISH ECO Durable Water-Repellent (DWR) finishing on all their Dryrobe Advance products. This is a plant-based solution that does not contain any harmful chemicals, significantly reducing the impact of the garments on the environment.
Carbon neutral
Dryrobe work with One Carbon World to offset the emissions that cannot be reduced in the manufacturing and shipping process of their products. By doing that they support a reforestation project in South America which is certified by the Rainforest Alliance.
Sustainability and Social Impact Report
For those of you who would like to find out more in depth about Dryrobe’s sustainability journey, they have published their 2022 Sustainability and Social Impact Report that you can read here.
We are very excited to be part of the Dryrobe network and with the gifting season just around the corner, this would be a great choice for the sea swimmer or surfer in your life.
