When most people think of coffee, they think of the drink that wakes them up in the morning and of deep-flavoured dark roasts. But coffee has a new meaning thanks to a rise in ethical fashion.
Sundried are leading the industry with innovative designs and this starts with their Eco Charge activewear range: sportswear made from recycled coffee grounds.
More and more people are waking up to the realisation that ‘fast fashion’ is causing irreparable damage to the planet and that something needs to be done before it’s too late.
Sustainable and responsible retailers like Sundried are vital in this industry, not only to reduce waste and pollution, but to cut greenhouse emissions, keep a low carbon footprint, and to give something back to the environment.
Sundried specifically chose to use coffee as our recycled product as it is a readily available raw product with high biodegradable properties meaning it is truly eco-friendly and sustainable. The fabric is made from the waste product that is created when making coffee. The used coffee grounds usually just end up in a landfill, so this recycling process is truly ethical and responsible.
Sundried are passionate about staying true to our ethical ethos but also providing premium apparel to our customers. We have found that coffee as a recycled product allows us to do both and we are currently the leaders in the industry for this.
How does it work?
Scientific tests have shown that when treated with boiling hydrochloric acid, coffee grounds create a black powder which has strong antioxidant properties.
Once treated and transformed into yarn, the coffee grounds release polyphenol-rich compounds which are plant chemicals with antioxidant capabilities which withstand damaging energies such as heat and light better than traditional fabrics.
This means that when the fabric is subjected to sweat, heat (during washing), and UV-rays, it holds up much better than typical fabrics such as cotton and dries up to 200% faster.
What are the benefits?
The clothing that is produced from used coffee grounds has fantastic benefits, including odour control, sweat-wicking, and it dries over 200 times faster than cotton. It is also naturally antibacterial.
This means no more unsightly sweat patches on grey t-shirts and absolutely no need to tumble dry as the garments are pretty much dry as soon as they come out of the wash.