Raising awareness of waste in the sport

by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Sailing News
Because new sails are a massive performance variable, there are a lot of old ‘retired’ sails. Keeping them out of the dumpster is a mission, but if they continue to be repurposed into duffel bags, those will soon be thrown away too.

So when Scuttlebutt received the press release of how the ReSail by Clean Sailors platform had expanded its sail reuse program, I wondered what they planned to do with more old sails.

They noted – sadly – how “currently over 97% of sails end up in a landfill or are incinerated at the end of their life” but I wondered  about their claim of how “sails are strong and durable, made to withstand Earth’s toughest environments including UV light, saltwater, and wind.” I have seen Mother Nature trash plenty of sails , so I asked for some reuse examples beyond making bags.

This response came from founder Holly Manvell:

As you may well be aware, over the last four years, ReSail by Clean Sailors and now over 40 partners in 11 countries have been working to raise awareness of waste within sailing, and to give second-life to materials where we can.

The absolute thousands of sails which are collected across the world each year are used for a variety of purposes, from temporary humanitarian shelters in refugee camps and post-disaster rebuilds, such as the Maui wildfires, animal shelters, again after natural disasters, domestic and fashion items, interior and exterior architecture pieces, are made into further smaller sails serving a secondary market making sails more accessible for those who aren’t able to afford new, etc etc.

Each partner is their own business or sail loft who have their own mission, purpose, ideas.

With regards to our partnership with Malta Sail Factory, in particular, one of their particularly poignant projects has been to donate race sails to young athletes and sailing academies in Malta, who use them for their dinghy sailing, while also collecting their old sails for reuse.

Please see the following further information from the Malta Sail Factory team:

Malta Sail Factory (MSF) is a company founded by seasoned professionals from various nautical sectors, dedicated to producing high-performance, durable, and reliable sails. Each sail undergoes rigorous inspection before production to ensure it meets specific usage requirements. MSF focuses on technological innovation, using only top-tier, certified materials with no compromise on quality.

Our clients include captains, shipowners, management companies, and racers who value being ahead of the market. With a growing network of service points across the Mediterranean, MSF also provides exceptional post-sales support and tailored onboard assistance. Our logistics and operations teams are equipped to meet the technical needs of vessels and their crews effectively.

At Malta Sail Factory, our ongoing project is centered on the repurposing of old sails, transforming what would otherwise be waste into new value. We are implementing this vision through a variety of collaborative and proactive approaches:

• Collection through our network: We gather used sails directly from yacht owners via our growing network of MSF Upcycling Points located across Malta, Italy, and Spain — including hubs like Grand Harbour Marina, Marina Portomaso, and Marina Villa Igiea.

• Collaborations with artisans and partners: We work closely with European artisans and partner businesses to push sail upcycling beyond traditional bag-making. In the future, we aim for our own designs — which visibly highlight the percentage of recycled sail — to be featured in partner collections.

• Institutional partnerships: We invest in pioneering projects in collaboration with regional and national institutions across Europe. Support for local sailing communities: We donate race sails to young athletes and sailing academies in Malta, while also collecting their old sails for reuse.

• Raising awareness: Through community initiatives and digital platforms, we spotlight the real scale of sail fabric waste and promote sustainable practices within the maritime world.

Please don’t hesitate if you’ve further questions and thank you for your support.

Details: https://resailbycleansailors.com/