Although the exact number remains unknown, an estimated 97 percent of sails end up in landfills when they exceed their use onboard. Thankfully, the material can see new life as tote bags and beach bags. The designers at Vripack wanted to do something about diverting sails from landfills, simultaneously getting people to be more mindful of the environment. So, with North Sails, Vripack is upcycling sails into beach cleanup bags. And, it will send you one on request.
North Sails makes its sails in Gosport, England plus has sail lofts in the United States and Canada. It works with production-yacht builders, superyacht clients, and America’s Cup competitors, too. Over the last few years, it has introduced a handful of sustainability-oriented initiatives to provide end-of-life solutions. Naturally, they include creating bags.
Vripack is upcycling North Sails products to create beach cleanup bags on purpose. According to Bart Bouwhuis, Vripack’s co-creative director, it’s better than making a tote bag that eventually gets forgotten. Plus, beach cleanups are gaining popularity to solve the plastics problem. Some of the more difficult-to-reach destinations around the world suffer the most, in fact, from plastic and other debris washing up on their shores. Since superyachts cruise these areas—and more—each year, Vripack reasons a bigger impact will occur. It will provide a North Sails collapsible beach bag to every superyacht pledging to pitch in and clean up.
“We’re asking the crew of any yachts interested in being part of this initiative to make a true ocean pledge in writing, and to state their clean-up intentions,” Bouwhuis explains. “That way, we hope to create a network of likeminded yacht owners and crew who will leave the beaches that they find in a better state than they found them.”
Already, Vripack is providing multiple bags to the employees and fleet yachts of Fraser Yachts. The two companies are hosting a beach cleanup starting today through December 10 at locations around the world. They’re destinations where Fraser fleet yachts will be cruising, as well as locations where the company has offices.
If you’d like to get a cleanup bag, visit the dedicated website.
North Sails northsails.com
Vripack vripack.com
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