ENO and Repreve launch inflatable lounger made from recycled plastic bottles

Eagles Nest Outfitters, a creator of packable camping hammocks and other outdoor accessories, has teamed up with Unifi’s Repreve recycled fibre brand to launch the ENO Billow Air Lounge, an inflatable lounger made with recycled plastic water bottles.

"We are delighted to work with a brand like REPREVE that shares the same environmental values as our company and our ENO customers," said Lane Nakaji, general manager of Eagles Nest Outfitters. "With the new Billow Air Lounge, we are providing individuals with a comfortable relaxation option for enjoying the outdoors, and we take it one step further by utilizing eco-friendly materials like Repreve that also honour the environment that they love."

Repreve collaborates with various well-known brands to help make their products better for the environment. Each Billow Air Lounge is made with Repreve, using 16 plastic water bottles.

Collaboration

Key features of the lounger include triple-stitched nylon and dual-layer construction for enhanced durability, the company reports. The Billow Air Lounge is portable and intelligently constructed. It comes with a custom carrying case and stakes, and when not in use, packs to a conveniently small size of less than 30 inches long. When inflated, the lounger is comfortably sized at nearly 7 feet long.

"ENO is a highly respected brand in the outdoor industry, and we're honoured that they've chosen to utilize Repreve in their new Billow Air Lounge," said Jay Hertwig, vice president of global brand sales, marketing and product development for Unifi.

"We believe this partnership will broaden the platform to empower consumers to choose the recycling bin instead of the trash can, and increase understanding of what can be created from water bottles when they are recycled."

Recycled yarn

Repreve from Unifi is a high-grade recycled polyester fibre. It is manufactured using polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from used plastic bottles and post-industrial recycled materials. The procurement chain is transparent from the waste product right through to the yarn. This is confirmed by the ‘SCS Certified Responsible Source’ seal of approval.

Full traceability permits the manufacturing of a high-grade fibre material of a consistent quality that forms the prerequisite for smooth process sequences during all stages of manufacturing and within the context of textile rental services.

It is used in a variety of auto, outdoor, home and apparel products by leading brands, including The North Face, Volcom, Haggar and more. Since the introduction of Repreve, Unifi says it has recycled and transformed more than 4 billion plastic bottles into Repreve-based products.