Earth Day 2025: 3 Million Pounds of Plastic Removed and We’re Just Getting Started!

When Solgaard was founded, we set out with a mission to create the most sustainable travel gear on the planet and to leave the world better than we found it. Today, we’re proud to say that together, with the help of our community, our partners, and our dedicated team, we’ve reached a major milestone: 3 million pounds of ocean-bound plastic removed from coastal communities.

Let that sink in.

Three million pounds of plastic that won’t end up in our oceans. Three million pounds of plastic that won’t harm marine life or break down into toxic microplastics. Three million pounds of impact, driven by people like you.

Why It Matters

Every minute, the equivalent of a garbage truck’s worth of plastic enters the ocean. It pollutes shorelines, endangers wildlife, and disrupts delicate ecosystems. But what often gets lost in the conversation is how this plastic affects the people living in coastal communities around the world, people who rely on the sea for their livelihoods, their food, and their sense of place. 

That’s why our mission isn’t just about removing plastic. It’s about restoring balance. It’s about empowering local communities. It’s about building something that lasts.

Powered by People

Our efforts are made possible by the Solgaard NYX Foundation and our incredible global network of impact partners. These are local organizations working in regions like Indonesia, and Costa Rica, places where plastic pollution is a daily challenge. Through community-based clean-up efforts, plastic is collected before it ever reaches the sea. It’s sorted, processed, and in many cases, repurposed into building materials or upcycled into our products.

We don’t parachute in and tell communities how to fix things. We collaborate, we listen, and we create jobs in the process. These efforts support local economies by creating fair-wage jobs and opportunities in underserved coastal communities, many of them for women, and have supported long-term economic growth.

A Mission Built Into Every Product

For every Solgaard product purchased, we remove 6 pounds of ocean-bound plastic. This isn’t an extra feature. It’s part of our DNA. When you pack a Carry-On Closet, carry a Lifepack, or charge up with a Solar Boombox, you’re carrying a piece of that impact with you.

Sustainability shouldn’t feel like a sacrifice. It should feel like something you’re proud to carry, wear, or roll through the airport with a little extra swagger. Our products are designed with that in mind: award-winning innovation, durability, and beauty, all with a mission that goes deeper than the surface.

Earth Day, Every Day

While Earth Day is a powerful reminder to reflect on our impact, we believe that every day is a chance to make better choices for ourselves and the planet. Whether it's choosing gear made from recycled materials, saying no to single-use plastic, or simply spreading awareness, small actions create ripple effects.

Our community has proven that. Solgaard customers have not only supported our mission with their purchases, but many have become vocal advocates, sharing our story with their friends, tagging us on their travels, and reminding us why we do what we do.

Where We Go From Here

3 million pounds is a moment worth celebrating, but it’s far from the end. It’s a checkpoint on a much longer journey.

With the continued support of our community, we're excited to keep this momentum going, one pound at a time. We’re investing in new product lines, expanding our clean-up programs, and collaborating with like-minded brands, creators, and communities who believe in a cleaner, more conscious future.

We also know that the sustainability space isn’t perfect. Greenwashing is real. Metrics are messy. But we’ve built this company on transparency, and we’re committed to continuing that journey with honesty and accountability.

How You Can Help

• Choose better: Whether it’s your luggage, your headphones, or your water bottle, remember that your purchases have power! Use them wisely.

• Spread the word: Share this milestone with your friends, your community, and your platforms. The more people know, the bigger the impact.

• Join us: Sign up for our newsletter, follow our journey on social, and become part of the #SolgaardSquad.

Thank You 💛

To everyone who’s been with us since the beginning, and to those just joining us now: thank you.

Thank you for believing that business can be a force for good. Thank you for proving that style and sustainability can go hand-in-hand. Thank you for walking this path with us, whether it’s across city streets, sandy beaches, or winding mountain roads.

We started this journey with a simple question: What if our stuff could help clean up the planet?

Turns out, it can. And we’re just getting started.

Written by Kimmy Costa