Hello, FilterForGoodians. The weather’s getting cooler here in New Orleans which means that I’m starting to run again. I hit the road last Sunday, and I was surprised that I could still run about five miles without stopping (I’m not very fast though. It took me about an hour.). The shirt I wore on my first jaunt back was made entirely out of garbage.

I discovered this company called, Atayne** (pronounced “attain”), that makes outdoor and athletic gear out of garbage, or recycled materials. Their reasons are simple. It’s better for people, the planet and performance. I contacted them, and asked if they would send me a shirt to run in. They did. Here’s what I thought:

The Shirt Review

The first thing I noticed when I got the shirt was that it felt just like the other athletic shirts in my closet. It felt a little rubbery and stretchy. It didn’t feel as light or silky as my other shirts, but it wasn’t heavy or bulky. On the run, I didn’t really feel any difference. It breathed nicely, and wicked moisture away from my skin pleasantly. All in all, I didn’t notice enough of a difference to prefer my other, non-trash shirts. In fact, because these shirts are made from recycled materials, I’m more inclined to go “trashy”. Check out their gear for men** and women.** Prices start at $24.

Wait! There’s More.

As if creating workout shirts out of garbage weren’t doing enough for the planet, they throw in some make-you-think eco collaterals just for kicks. First, a tag that spreads more of their company culture and philosophy. On one side, a question, “Why do all your tops have sayings, statements, and symbols?” On the other side, the answer, “We stand for more than performance. We stand for performance with a point of view. And we believe what Abraham Lincoln believed: ‘To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men’.” But, that’s not what I love about this tag. It’s cool because I can plant it, water it and watch wildflowers grow. How cool is that?

The other card in the package listed 10 tips to become a greener athlete. I’m sure they won’t mind if I share a few notables here:

1. Recycling two aluminum cans saves the energy equivalent of a gallon of gas.
2. Drop bottled water. Invest in reusable bottles and a water filter. (Honestly, it says that!)
3. Recycle your old running shoes at www.recycledrunners.com,** or www.soles4souls.org.**
4. Don’t wash your apparel after every workout. Rinse it in the shower, and hang to dry.

Do you own any Atayne gear? Comment below and tell us about it.

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