In partnership with social enterprise Plastic Bank, Advansa, a leading supplier of sustainable polyester fibres for bedding in Europe, has introduced Aerelle Blue, a new filling-fibre for pillows, duvets and mattresses. The new fibre is made from recycled ocean-bound plastic called Social Plastic which helps solve the problem of ocean and beach plastic.
“The goal is to help prevent and reduce the flow of plastic waste into our oceans or beaches, in coastal regions that do not have efficient and formal waste or recycling systems, while at the same time opening up new opportunities for people living in poverty,” said Advansa in a report.
Plastic Bank is globally recognised as one of the leading solutions to stop ocean plastic. Featured in the award-winning documentary ‘A Plastic Ocean’, Plastic Bank received the prestigious Sustainia Community Award at COP21, the Beacon for Change Award at COP23, as well as the RCBC Innovation Award. Recently their blockchain exchange and incentives platform received an IBM Beacon Award.
Plastic Bank encourages people to collect plastic waste to make impactful changes towards saving the environment, and create value for themselves in order to improve their quality of life. Plastic Bank offers collectors incentives in cash or as Blockchain-secured digital tokens that increase their income and provide better opportunities for themselves and their families. The Social Plastic created from Plastic Bank ecosystems helps people living in poverty build a better future and improve the environment.
The plastic collected by Plastic Bank is cleaned and recycled, becoming Social Plastic. This is used by Advansa as a valuable raw material in the manufacture of high-quality polyester filling fibres for pillows duvets and mattresses. As part of its cooperation with Plastic Bank, Advansa has already invested and processed considerable quantities of Social Plastic from recycling centres in Haiti and the Philippines. Advansa looks forward to pursuing this investment in the future and to further contribute to reducing ocean and beach plastic with the launch of Aerelle Blue.
Thanks to high-tech recycling and extrusion technology in its plant in Germany, Advansa is able to ensure the high quality and comfort benefits for these polyester fibres which also qualify for the EU Ecolabel. This means fluffy, soft and long-lasting fibre-fillings for pillows, duvets and mattresses which are produced by Advansa’s licensed customers across Europe. All bedding products produced using Aerelle Blue fibre-filling will carry an individually numbered label to ensure full traceability and transparency. The reliability and ecological credibility are further supported by a certification process with Global Recycling Standard.
“With this new partnership Advansa is proud to take another step forward in our Sustainability Programme and to offer our customers and end-users, the choice of more environmentally responsible products,” said David Bayliss, Business Director at Advansa.
“We are pleased to announce this cooperation with Advansa which builds on the ongoing work of Plastic Bank to prevent the flow of plastic into our oceans and contribute positively by turning plastic waste into a currency for people in poverty and giving them access to a secure income,” said Lindsay Christianson, Director Of Business and partner development at Plastic Bank.
