Unless you’re a bigtime sailor, you might not be familiar with the term “flotsam and jetsam” outside of Disney’s Little Mermaid late-1980s flick. However, these terms are very much real nautical words and not just the names of evil eels. For reference, flotsam is debris created in a shipwreck — which is unfortunate, but also fairly unavoidable. Jetsam, by contrast, is actually unwanted cargo or materials dumped into the ocean — often with the intention of cutting the weight of a vessel. Yes, that essentially means that jetsam is garbage left to float around the ocean until it likely meets up with more garbage and, eventually, creates islands of trash like the Texas-sized (and growing) trash mass floating out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. While we can’t turn back time to help undo that damage, there are a wide variety of companies working on productive ways of getting the waste out of the ocean. And that’s what inspired this week’s sustainably-focused everyday carry pocket dump. If you want to do your part to help erase some of our planet’s waste — which all-too-often ends up in the oceans — picking up this EDC gear is a solid first step.
Rareform Veer Card Holder
If you’re not familiar with Rareform, you’re in for a treat. You see, this brand takes old billboard vinyl and transforms it into a wide variety of carry solutions — ranging from things like large duffel bags down to minimalist front pocket wallets, like the Veer Card Holder you see here. That means everything they make is one-of-a-kind. On top of that, this handsome wallet has three card pockets, a clear ID window, a center cash pocket, and is slim enough to slip in even tight pockets.
The James Brand Stilwell Pen
Made from aluminum — which is nearly infinitely recyclable — The James Brand’s Stilwell Pen is a superb EDC writing utensil that’s compact enough for even the most crowded of pockets, yet opens into a full-length balanced pen. It also boasts a screw-off top, a brushed finish, and it was made to house popular D1 ink cartridge refills. Plus, if you don’t like the silver aluminum, it’s also available in black or titanium.
Triwa Ocean Plastic Watch
One of the biggest environmental issues we’re facing right now is the abundance of plastic waste in our oceans and waterways. Well, the folks at Triwa are trying to have a positive impact on that issue by crafting a series of Time for Oceans timepieces with cases made out of plastic waste — ostensibly keeping it out of the oceans by putting it on our wrists. They feature Japanese Miyota quartz movements, they’re waterproof to 10 ATM, are equipped with scratch-resistant mineral crystals, and boast matching straps that are also made from ocean plastic.
Zeal Optics Boone Glasses
In case you’re not familiar, Zeal Optics makes all of their offerings 100% sustainably — including the Boone glasses you see here. They’re crafted entirely from plant-based materials, weigh less than an ounce, and they’re even polarized — meaning they offer UV protection for all your upcoming outdoor adventures.
