Swimcycle: D&B Swimwear Recycling Scheme (2024)

FAQs

Swimcycle: D&B Swimwear Recycling Scheme? ›

Swimcycle is an easy way to recycle your old, well-worn swimwear in return for a discount off your next (full price) purchase with D&B. Saving swimwear from landfill is simple – send it back to us and we'll send it to the clever people who make our eco-nylon to clean, regenerate and make into new fabric.

Giving swimwear which can't be donated to charity a second life! All the well-loved, broken and worn swimwear you send us is collected by First Mile, a recycling company that repurposes hard-to-recycle clothing like swimwear as new materials such as insulation, sports equipment filler and carpet underlay.

Swimsuits can be challenging to recycle because they're typically a blend of materials, and some swimwear collected in the new program will still be turned into material like insulation. But other blends can be “fiber to fiber” recycled and used like new material.

Lampshades, seat covers, and photo album covers are just a few examples of fun projects that can upcycle bathing suits. If you're not the creative type, you can always hand down your bathing suits to family or friends, or donate them to crafting classes or sewing clubs where they can cut up the pieces for art projects.

It's worth getting in touch with your local charity shops, homeless shelters and similar organisations before trying to drop off your old favourites so that you can be certain they accept swimwear. If they don't, it's likely any swimwear they receive as donations could end up in landfill anyway.

Donating a bathing suit can be a great way to help someone in need, but it's important to ensure that the suit is in good condition and appropriate for the person wearing it.

Brand partners of SuperCircle include Reformation, ALC and Uniqlo US. Sacher said that they are currently active in North America (Canada, the US, and Mexico) and are planning to expand to Europe next year.

The main concern when it comes to sharing or buying second-hand bathing suits is parasites. A parasite is an organism that survives by causing harm to another organism—often by feeding off its body in some way.

“Norovirus and MRSA are also other potential pathogens that could be found and transmitted.” However, the actual risk of becoming ill – as long as you wash your swimwear properly – is low. “It is unlikely that you will develop any serious infection from such pathogens, even if they do exist,” Hussain says.

How many years does a swimsuit last? ›

The life of a swimsuit varies depending on the quality of the garment and how it's taken care of. Generally, a swimsuit should last three months to a year, but if it's well-maintained, it can last for a few seasons.

"Most bathing suit designers and manufacturers recommend letting the bathing suit air dry and washing only every three to five wears." To prolong the life of your swimsuit (and keep your bits healthy and happy) Dr. Sekhon recommends using your usual detergent to hand wash your swimsuits.

Try using boiling hot water to soak your suit and then put it through a hot cycle in the dryer, or try ironing a damp suit on low heat to gradually shrink the material.

Swimcycle is an easy way to recycle your old, well-worn swimwear in return for a discount off your next (full price) purchase with D&B. Saving swimwear from landfill is simple – send it back to us and we'll send it to the clever people who make our eco-nylon to clean, regenerate and make into new fabric.

Swimwear cannot be recycled in the sense of being put in the recycling bin and then being turned into something else. But it doesn't mean you have to get rid of your old swimwear or other goods you no longer want. After your time with them, you can recycle those outfits in numerous ways to give them a new life.

If the product comes in a recyclable container, you can transfer it into sealable, non-recyclable packaging bound for the trash, then recycle the empty container. Many companies offer packaging recycling services of their own.

Drop off your unwanted items at recycling points and clothing and textile banks in supermarket and local car parks – find your nearest below. Donate items to registered charities and re-use organisations - some, such as The British Heart Foundation, offer a free collection service from your home.

Recycling your old swim hats and goggles

Do you have a collection of goggles and swim hats that you don't use any more? To save them from going to landfill, send your old hats and goggles to Sea & Stream.