Recycled ocean plastic beachwear is mostly marketing hype.

It is.

Nearly every brand now claims their swim trunks are made from “ocean-bound plastics” or “recycled fishing nets.” The reality: they’re using the same recycled polyester or nylon that’s been around for years, just with a splashy label. The actual percentage of material that came from the ocean (rather than from a recycling facility) is usually tiny or impossible to verify.

If you actually care about sustainability, look for brands that use certified materials (like REPREVE or Econyl) and are transparent about their supply chain. Patagonia’s surf trunks are boring but legit. Fair Harbor makes decent shorts from recycled bottles. Outerknown uses Econyl—recycled nylon from fishing nets—and their stuff holds up. None of these are “the latest” in a trendy sense, but they work.

Most of the Instagram-friendly brands with “sustainable” in the name are just dropshipping the same cheap recycled poly as everyone else, with a higher markup. Don’t get fooled by buzzwords.

Buy something that lasts, not something that sounds virtuous.