Fourth Element has partnered with recycling and repurposing experts, Waterhaul, to retask the mask; turning single-use plastics into the tools we use in pursuit of underwater adventure. Face masks and other items of PPE from hospitals are melted down into blocks, sterilising the material which fourth element purchases, recycle and transforms.

These cave line markers are the first of what fourth element hopes will be many products using this waste material to give it a new life beyond protecting the lives of our frontline healthcare workers. Each marker re-uses the equivalent of two disposable masks. Waste is given a new direction.

The end product is completely safe. The PPE is heat treated by the hospital: the plastic is heated to high temperatures multiple times; first to make the blocks within the recycling process, and also whilst injection moulding the parts.

What makes this OceanPositive?

In the UK alone, 58 million single-use plastic face masks are thrown away every day, littering landfills and polluting the environment. Globally, we use 129 billion per month – that’s enough to wrap around the world 550 times! Over the last 12 months, a recorded 1.5 billion have entered the ocean, disrupting our ecosystem and endangering marine life across the globe. And that’s just what has been recorded.

These lines markers are made from recycled PPE, each one saving two masks from entering landfill or our oceans. Part of fourth element’s Zero Waste and Zero Plastic initiatives; to re-purpose as much plastic as possible and find new uses for products at the end of their lives.

“We believe that this is the way,” said Jim Standing, co-founder of fourth element. “We are all going to have to tackle the challenges of a post covid world and one of these will be how we deal with the waste we have created as part of keeping ourselves and in particular, our frontline workers protected. We intend to play our part.”

For more information visit the Fourth Element website by clicking here.

Hands will stay super-warm and protected inside Typhoon International’s brand new Storm3 Gloves.

Each Storm3 glove is perfectly constructed so that you can say goodbye to that numb feeling and instead keep active and nimble-fingered while dinghy sailing, windsurfing or enjoying just about any watersport.  A pair of Storm3 gloves is a great versatile accessory, attractively priced for entry level or experienced hands alike. The key to warmth is the Storm3’s 3mm neoprene.  Meanwhile ‘PU’ patterned palm reinforcement add even more protection from the elements while providing extra reinforcement in the areas of the greatest wear.

Storm3 gloves are comfortable and flexible too, so you can wear them in comfort for hours on end. They perfectly complement Typhoon International’s range of Storm wetsuits and wetsuit boots for full body protection.

Like the other products in Typhoon International’s Storm range, the Storm3 gloves have been created according to the company’s commitment to the environment.  Each Storm product is manufactured according to ‘REACH’ regulations, ensuring that chemicals hazardous to the environment are not used in the manufacturing process.

Visit www.typhoon-int.co.uk to see the full range and to find details of your nearest stockist.

Sizes: Adult – S,M,L,XL.  Youth – Y-S,Y-M,Y-L

Prices:

• Storm3 glove adult £23.95 (inc VAT)
• Storm3 Glove youth £18.95 (VAT exempt)