Packaging

Fair Harbor’s public information on product packaging is limited. The brand does not highlight using plastic-free or compostable packaging on its site, nor have they disclosed specific initiatives to minimize packaging waste.

Material Sustainability

The company has repurposed over 37 million plastic bottles into its apparel to date, with an average of about 12 post-consumer bottles recycled per garment. Most of the brand’s swim trunks are made from a high proportion of recycled polyester (e.g. roughly 88% recycled PET with 12% spandex for stretch in one popular style), and another trunk line utilizes 88% recycled nylon blended with elastane.

Beyond swimwear, Fair Harbor incorporates sustainable natural fibers: many of its shirts and hoodies use blends of organic cotton and recycled polyester (often around 60–70% organic cotton to 30–40% recycled poly). The brand also sources Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) cotton, indicating support for more sustainable farming practices.

Fair Harbor has innovated with fabrics like “Seawool,” a yarn made from recycled plastic bottles and oyster shell byproduct, which gives performance benefits (antibacterial, insulating) while reusing waste materials.

Energy Use and Footprint

When it comes to energy use and carbon footprint, Fair Harbor’s efforts are not prominently detailed. There is no public evidence that the company has implemented renewable energy in its supply chain or set targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Waste Management

On the positive side, the brand is literally built on turning waste (plastic bottles, oyster shells) into wearable products, which helps keep plastic out of landfills and oceans. However, in terms of manufacturing and product lifecycle, there is no indication that Fair Harbor has a formal zero-waste program or product take-back/recycling scheme. We have not seen evidence that the company minimizes textile off-cuts in production or recycles scraps into new products (e.g. no mention of upcycling fabric waste or a repair/repurpose service for old garments). Likewise, at end-of-life, customers are not given a recycling option specific to the brand’s products.

Business Model

Fair Harbor has woven sustainability into its business model, but it still operates within a traditional retail framework. The company was founded explicitly as an ethical, purpose-driven brand with the mission of protecting coastal environments. Achieving B Corp status required formalizing many practices and adds accountability in the governance structure, which is a notable strength of the business model. On the other hand, Fair Harbor is a growing apparel brand that relies on selling new products seasonally, which inherently creates environmental impact. They engage in typical retail practices like seasonal sales and expanding product lines to drive growth.