Recycling the wardrobe

● WHEN it comes to your horse’s wardrobe, big-name brands are leading the way with their selection of sustainable gear.

Each rug from Weatherbeeta’s Green-Tec range saves over 340 plastic bottles from going into a landfill or the ocean, and the fabric uses 50% less energy to produce than a traditional turnout rug. Both the outer fabric and lining are made from recycled bottles. Plus, it is packaged in recyclable packaging that is made from post consumer recyclable (PCR) plastic.

Derby House’s eco-friendly Evolution rug (pictured) – which is also free of polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) – is made from the equivalent of 110 recycled plastic bottles. It’s claimed to be the most sustainable rug in the world.

“Using recycled plastics is exactly the kind of lever we need to be pulling when attempting to make recycling a viable solution,” said a Derby House spokesman.

● ASIDE from buying second-hand clothing, opting for products made from recycled materials is the next best thing.

The most recent addition to DVR Equestrian’s collection is the Penny pull-on winter jodhpurs, the first product from the brand to be made from Repreve (a fabric made from recycled bottles). As well as being DVR’s first winter weight jodhpurs, they are made from 84% Repreve and 16% Spandex.

Saracen Horse Feeds, which uses only renewable energy sources at its site, has recently released branded uniforms made from recycled plastic. Each branded soft-shell jacket for staff and sponsored riders will be produced from 20 plastic cups, aptly recycled from horse racing events.