Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli choose Merino Wool

The sea is our playground. We live with it every day, sailing, observing and trying to understand its changes. But day by day we are witnessing the impact that our way of life is having on this ecosystem that is so important for our planet. 

The sea, like the forest, acts as the lungs of the earth. It absorbs 20 – 30% of the carbon in the atmosphere. It regulates the rain cycle and the temperature of our planet.

In recent years, studies have shown that levels of plastic and microplastics in the sea are increasing exponentially.

Today about 90% of seabirds have plastic fragments in their stomachs, whereas in the 1960s this value was just above 5%. (1) In 2018 scientific research, conducted by the Università Politecnica delle Marche, the National Research Centre's Institute of Marine Science, and Greenpeace, uncovered alarming data on the percentage of microplastics found in the bodies of marine organisms. In 25 to 30% of the species examined, microplastics smaller than 5 millimeters were present. (2) The damage to these fragile balances can have devastating consequences for the
health of the ocean and the entire planet.

This is why, as a team, we have decided to send a clear message on this subject, which is very important to us. We have adapted scrupulous procedures to minimize the waste we produce, both at sea and on shore. We have scheduled a series of activities to increase awareness, observing the Charta Smeralda - the ethical code of behaviour created by the One Ocean Foundation, which defines guiding principles to protect the sea.

About 35% of the microplastics in the marine environment originate from synthetic fibers used in garments. These very tiny particles, less than 5 millimeters in diameter, are now found throughout aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems all over the world. A study by the University of Manchester in 2018, published in Nature Geoscience (3), estimated that 0.6-1.7 million tons of microfibers are released into the ocean every year. The increasing use of plastic and synthetic fibers, including the clothing industry, is likely to have drastic implications on the environment (4). For this reason, the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team is actively committed, through concrete actions, to mitigate environmental impact.

Thanks to a collaboration with The Woolmark Company, high-performance garments have been designed for the sailing team’s uniform, developed with extremely innovative
solutions and created with high percentages of natural fibers such as wool: a biodegradable and renewable material, with a very low impact both in its production cycle and disposal, and with extraordinary breathability and waterproof characteristics.

Our commitment, as individuals and as a team, is to acting responsibly and respectfully. We are guests on this planet and we have to do our best to keep it intact. The privilege we enjoy when seeing a dolphin swimming or sailing in a clean sea, is a privilege we also have to guarantee to future generations.

Jimmy Spithill (sailing team member): “The America’s Cup is F1 on the water and you are looking for any technology edge that you can get, and clothing is no different. These boats reach speeds up to 90 kms an hour and the guys get incredibly hot, with a super high heart rate, for around a 30-minute race. You really eed a product that is breathable and can deal with a thermally changing body. I’ve been blown away with the gear from The Woolmark Company and the new technology they have come up with. It’s just one of the many little things that I think will give us a competitive advantage. In addition it is a sustainable product, natural, organic and totally biodegradable and, let’s face it, we all must really focus on these concepts now.”