Solgaard Joins NextWave Plastics, Expands Sustainable Luggage Collection
Solgaard joins companies Dell, HP, IKEA and more, to scale the use of ocean-bound plastics; introduces new suitcase made with recycled ocean-bound plastics
NEW YORK CITY (Oct. 31, 2019) – NextWave Plastics, an initiative convening leading companies to develop the first global network of ocean-bound plastics suppliers, today announces Solgaard, a design-driven, sustainable luxury travel goods company, is the latest new member company to join the consortium. In conjunction with joining NextWave Plastics, Solgaard is unveiling its latest product in its sustainable luggage assortment - The Trunk: A Check-In Closet.
Like many of NextWave Plastics companies’ products, the interior lining of the new check-in hard shell luggage solution is made with recycled ocean-bound plastic. The Check-in Closet is a larger-sized model of the brand’s best-selling suitcase, the Carry-On Closet, and enables Solgaard to cater to both “carry-on” and “check-in” travelers’ needs. Available in three colors (Balearic Blue, Baltic Black, Venetian Red), the Solgaard Trunk: A Check-In Closet ($325) launches internationally November 1, 2019, on www.solgaard.co and at U.S.-based Dillard’s store locations.
The launch of the Check-In Closet follows Solgaard’s earlier sustainable innovation in August 2019, when the brand introduced a collection of unisex bags and backpacks crafted in the brand's exclusive proprietary SHORE-TEX™ fabric made from plastic waste collected from beaches and riverways in the Philippines. Upon collection, the plastic is then cleaned, processed into flakes and heated into pellets, before being stretched into a yarn-like fiber and woven into a functional fabric. Solgaard's pioneering innovations sees the continuation of the company’s pledge to remove five pounds of plastic waste from the ocean for every product purchased.
Through its partnership with The Plastic Bank, Solgaard has already pulled 65,000 lbs. of plastic from the ocean since January 2019 and aims to remove one million lbs. of plastic from the ocean by the end of 2020. In addition to integrating ocean-bound plastic into its products, Solgaard removed all single-use plastics from its shipping processes this year and will eliminate them from its entire supply chain in 2020.
“Solgaard’s mission has always been to offer premium products that are ethically made and sustainably sourced, all at an accessible price point,” said Adrian Solgaard, founder and CEO of Solgaard. “By joining NextWave Plastics, Solgaard is reinforcing its commitment to eliminating plastics from our ocean. Collaborating with other companies who are as dedicated to this effort as we are means we can prove what’s possible and demonstrate that businesses can choose sustainability without sacrificing premium quality. By utilizing recycled ocean-bound plastics in products like our latest Check-In Closet, we are also empowering consumers to shop responsibly.”
Lonely Whale, an award-winning incubator for courageous ideas that drive impactful market-based change on behalf of our ocean, launched NextWave Plastics alongside Dell Technologies in 2017 to bring together a cross-industry consortium of companies to scale the use of ocean-bound plastics. Member companies include Bureo, Dell Technologies, General Motors, Herman Miller, HP Inc., Humanscale, IKEA, Interface, Solgaard, and Trek Bicycle.
NextWave member companies are committed to having maximum impact today and currently are on track, in alignment with UN SDG 14.1, to have diverted a minimum of 25,000 tonnes of plastics, the equivalent to 1.2 billion single-use plastic water bottles, from entering the ocean by the end of the year 2025. The companies are actively decreasing the volume of plastic waste and nylon litter before it enters the ocean, and are committed to demonstrating the commercial viability and advantages of integrating ocean-bound plastics into their supply chains in the context of heightened consumer, stakeholder, and policymaker awareness of the environmental impacts of marine plastic.
“The addition of Solgaard to NextWave Plastics marks 10 companies collaborating to turn off the tap of plastic entering the ocean,” said Dune Ives, executive director of Lonely Whale, the convening entity for NextWave Plastics. “NextWave Plastics member companies are making products from ocean-bound plastic across a variety of industries, and we are so proud to lead this diverse consortium working to create real change to ensure a healthy planet.”
For more information on NextWave, visit www.nextwaveplastics.org. You can also connect with NextWave on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
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About Solgaard
A design driven, sustainable luxury brand always ready for adventure - Solgaard enhances life on-the-go with premium gear for global citizens, while making a positive impact on the planet. Founded in 2016 by Canadian-Norwegian entrepreneur, Adrian Solgaard, the brand pulls 5lbs of ocean bound plastic for each item sold. In a commitment to revolutionize supply chain and sourcing practices, Solgaard removed all single use plastics from its shipping processes as of May 2019 and will have eliminated all single use plastics from its entire supply chain in 2020. Solgaard is headquartered in New York City. Learn more at www.solgaard.co or follow Solgaard on social media: Instagram: @solgaard | Twitter: @solgaard_co | Facebook: /solgaard.co
About Lonely Whale
Lonely Whale is an award-winning incubator for courageous ideas that drive impactful market-based change on behalf of our ocean. Founded in December 2015 by Adrian Grenier and Lucy Sumner, Lonely Whale is inspired by the power of community to create the change needed to ensure a healthy planet. Lonely Whale is working towards a new era of radical collaboration, together facilitating the creation of innovative ideas that push the boundary on current trends in technology, media and advocacy that positively impact the health of our ocean. Lonely Whale’s work has been recognized by Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas, the Shorty Awards, and the ADDY Awards. Lonely Whale is a proud supporter of the UN Environment’s #CleanSeas campaign. To learn more and support, visit www.lonelywhale.org or follow @LonelyWhale.
About NextWave Plastics
NextWave Plastics is a collaborative and open-source initiative convening leading technology and consumer-focused companies to develop the first global network of ocean-bound plastics supply chains. Since its launch, NextWave member companies have been developing their product use cases to demonstrate the viability of integrating ocean-bound plastics found in areas such as Indonesia, Chile, Philippines, Cameroon and Denmark, into their supply chains. To learn more, visit www.nextwaveplastics.org or follow @NextWavePlastics.