What Is A Guppyfriend Washing Bag & Why Do You Need One?

Sustainability is a key priority in the design and manufacture of all Red Paddle Co and Red Original products. As the world’s leading inflatable SUP brand, it shouldn’t be surprising that we’re pretty big fans of the ocean and protecting it as much as we can. That’s why we’re so delighted to be able to offer the Guppyfriend Washing Bag, which provides a pragmatic solution to the water pollution that’s created when we wash our clothes. By washing your clothes inside a Guppyfriend Washing bag, you prevent harmful microplastics from polluting oceans and rivers when you wash synthetic textiles, whilst helping to protect the quality of the clothes. The broken fibres collect in the corners of the Guppy Bag and can be easily disposed of once the wash cycle has finished.

Why Is It So Important To Use A Guppyfriend Washing Bag?

Most of the clothes that we wear today are made from synthetic, fossil-fuel based plastics, such as nylon and polyester. Every time you wash them, a countless number of microfibres make their way into oceans, rivers and lakes from your washing machine. These harmful pollutants are then consumed by aquatic organisms who can’t distinguish the tiny particles from their actual food. This doesn’t only result in serious harm to animals and nature, but also to human health.

Once consumed by fish and other species, these tiny plastic particles can make their way into our own bodies via the food chain. This means that by using a Guppyfriend Washing Bag, you’re taking an important step towards helping reduce the microplastics problem.

In addition to its essential environmental benefits, a Guppyfriend Washing Bag is also important for protecting the quality of your favourite clothes. The Guppyfriend Washing Bag protects your clothes by reducing fibre shedding. It works by filtering the harmful microfibres that do break without losing any fibres itself.

The innovative technology used to make the Guppyfriend Washing Bag is an important reminder to consider the environmental impact of the clothing and products that we use - This is at the heart of our design and manufacturing processes at Red.

Using a Guppyfriend Washing Bag for your Red Original clothing products, will help to protect their high performance properties, whilst protecting the oceans and waterways where so many of us enjoy our favourite sports and activities. Innovative products, such as the Guppyfriend Washing Bag, are key in supporting the steps that we are taking at Red Paddle Co to be environmentally responsible. This includes:

Red Paddle Co’s Circular Economy Processes

The Circular Economy concept is designed to break away from the creation of cradle to grave products, and towards the use of materials that can be recovered and re-used rather than going to landfill. When a product reaches the end of its life it should be either ‘recoverable’ (by melting it down or repurposing it etc.), or naturally compostable. At Red, we aim to ensure that our products are recoverable at the end of their life. One example of this is our use of pure materials that allow for ongoing maintenance and improved recyclability.

Packaging & Production

Our in-house team of designers are constantly looking for ways to reduce waste, adhesives and dyes. We have removed glue from our packaging and switched to mechanical fastenings instead, and are currently on track to make all our packaging 100% compostable. Whilst we are not completely there yet, we’re pleased to say that our board production facility is now 100% waste free, whilst our paper and card packaging is 100% recyclable. We’re continually taking steps to improve this wherever we can.

Building Products That Last

A key part of improving our environmental footprint as a company is building products that last. That’s why every inflatable paddle board that we make takes 72 hours to manufacture in our own private facility using exclusive MSL technology. This is what ensures our boards are unmatched in reliability and durability - We’ve even driven over our boards with a 22 tonne digger to ensure they really are built to last. In addition to this, our clothing is made using high-performance materials, such as moisture-wicking fabrics, to ensure they maintain their quality for years of use. Washing your Red Paddle Co clothing using a Guppyfriend Washing Bag will further support its longevity and quality.

For further information on the Guppyfriend Washing Bag, or to hear more about our sustainability initiatives, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team.