WEAR THE CHANGE
Our commitment to sustainability
Sustainability is a series of decisions. Here's every decision we've made, and why.
WHERE WE STAND
AN HONEST STARTING POINT.
We'll be straight with you: sustainable fashion is complicated, and no brand, including us, has it completely figured out.
What we can do is make every decision count, be transparent about our limitations, and keep pushing for better as options improve. This page covers exactly how we make The Dive Compass, what it's made from, how it gets to you, and where we still have work to do.
OUR FABRICS
RECYCLED SWIMWEAR FABRICS.
The majority of The Dive Compass swimwear range is made from recycled polyester, certified to the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) and OEKO-TEX Standard 100, produced by our production partner using post-consumer recycled plastic waste.
Our swimwear fabrics, used across our bikinis, swim trunks, Scuba Leggings, and Cropped Rashies, are made from recycled polyester in both our US/Mexico and Latvia production facilities. The exact composition varies slightly by facility: US/Mexico production uses 75% recycled polyester and 25% elastane, while Latvia production uses 88% recycled polyester and 12% elastane.
Our men's and women's full length rash guards and one-piece swimsuit are made from 75% recycled polyester in US/Mexico production. EU production for these specific styles uses conventional polyester, a limitation we're committed to improving as better certified options become available through our production partner.
Compared to virgin polyester, recycled polyester reduces CO₂ emissions by up to 79% and keeps plastic out of the waste stream. It isn't a perfect solution, recycled synthetics still shed some microfibres during washing, but it is the most responsible option currently available to us and every piece is certified to prove it.
We recommend washing your swimwear in a Guppyfriend bag to capture microfibres before they enter waterways.
OUR ORGANIC COTTON APPAREL
CERTIFIED ORGANIC COTTON.
Our organic cotton apparel, including t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies, is produced by Stanley/Stella, one of the world's leading sustainable apparel brands. These pieces are certified to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and Organic Content Standard (OCS), independently verified from farm to finished garment.
GOTS is the world's leading textile processing standard for organic fibres, it covers the entire supply chain including environmental and social criteria. OCS verifies that the organic content claim is traceable and legitimate.
Our organic cotton pieces are fulfilled from both our US/Mexico and Latvia production facilities.
OUR PRINTING PROCESS
OEKO-TEX CERTIFIED INKS.
Every Dive Compass design is printed using OEKO-TEX certified inks, tested and verified to be free from harmful substances and safe for direct skin contact. Our swimwear uses sublimation printing, and our organic cotton apparel uses DTG (direct-to-garment) printing with Kornit water-based NeoPigment inks.
Both printing methods use water-based inks with no harmful chemical runoff. The OEKO-TEX certification means every ink used in your garment meets strict international safety standards — safe for adults, children, and sensitive skin.
OUR PACKAGING
RECYCLED MAILERS.
Your Dive Compass order arrives in packaging designed to reduce virgin plastic consumption. All apparel orders are shipped in post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic mailers, made from recycled plastic waste like used shopping bags and wrapping film, with a minimum of 70% PCR content globally and 90–100% PCR content for North American orders.
PCR plastic mailers are recyclable at soft plastic drop-off points, check with your local waste management provider for the nearest location. They cannot go in your standard recycling bin.
OUR PRODUCTION MODEL
MADE TO ORDER. NOTHING WASTED.
Every Dive Compass piece is made when you order it. We don't hold inventory, which means nothing sits in a warehouse and nothing goes to landfill unsold. The fashion industry wastes an estimated 92 million tonnes of textile every year, mostly from overproduction. Made-to-order production eliminates that problem entirely for our range.
This does mean your order takes 5–7 days to craft before it ships. That's a trade-off we make deliberately, and one we think is worth it.
Our production partner fulfills approximately 86% of orders within the same region they're placed — meaning your order is made and shipped from the facility closest to you, reducing shipping emissions and getting your gear to you faster.
OUR PRODUCTION LOCATIONS
LOCAL PRODUCTION. FEWER SHIPPING MILES.
The Dive Compass is fulfilled through production facilities in the USA/Mexico and Latvia, meaning your order is made and shipped from whichever facility is closest to your delivery address. North American orders ship from the USA or Mexico. European orders ship from Latvia.
Localized production means shorter shipping routes, lower transport emissions, and faster delivery, without centralizing production in a single facility on the other side of the world.
OUR CERTIFICATIONS AT A GLANCE
THE CREDENTIALS BEHIND THE CLAIMS.
GRS — Global Recycled Standard
Verifies that the recycled content claim in our swimwear fabrics is traceable and legitimate. Applies to our recycled polyester swimwear range produced in US/Mexico and Latvia.
OEKO-TEX Standard 100
Confirms our swimwear fabrics have been tested free from harmful substances. Applies to our recycled swimwear range.
GOTS — Global Organic Textile Standard
The world's leading standard for organic fibre processing. Covers the full supply chain of our organic cotton apparel including environmental and social criteria.
OCS — Organic Content Standard
Verifies the organic content claim in our cotton apparel is traceable from farm to finished garment.
OEKO-TEX Certified Inks
All inks used in printing The Dive Compass range are OEKO-TEX certified — tested free from harmful substances and safe for skin contact.
THIS IS WHY IT MATTERS
EVERY DECISION WE MAKE STARTS WITH THE SAME QUESTION: IS THIS GOOD FOR THE OCEAN?
We're not perfect. We're working toward better — in our materials, our production, our packaging, and our impact. And we're committed to being transparent about every step of that journey.
Learn more about how your purchase plants a coral through our Save Our Seas Pledge, or read the story behind the brand on our Our Mission page.
Corals planted with every purchase
Designed for divers with Sun Protection
Made to order = no excess waste
Easy returns, quality guaranteed