Disney Cast Member Costumes Made from Trash?

Look at this stuff, isn’t it neat?

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Recycling on the High Seas

The Walt Disney Company always looks for ways to help the environment, minimize waste, and create a cleaner world.

The desire for a greener Earth has led the entertainment giant to consider new and innovative ways to reuse and recycle materials. Thousands of costumes Disney Cast Members wear in Walt Disney World and Disneyland theme parks and on Disney cruise ships are made from recycled plastic debris. In some cases, such as in the new costumes used in Disney Wish’s theatrical adaptation of “Disney The Little Mermaid,” they were made using debris recovered from the ocean. In fact, 88% of the show’s costumes were made with recycled materials.

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The whosits, whatsits, and thingamabobs were melted into threads woven into material emulating cotton, silk, and chiffon. They were then dyed using a waterless printing method that saved tens of thousands of gallons of water compared to traditional dyeing processes.

Also aboard the Disney Wish, Guests may find a Disney Cast Member or two in Cabanas or at deck bars wearing costumes crafted from recycled water bottles.

RELATED: Disney World Reveals New Costumes for Cast Members in Every Park

Recycled Lightcycled

This technique was also used in creating Cast Member costumes at the Walt Disney World Resort. Cast Members operating the TRON Lightcycle / Run roller coaster at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom sports costumes made with recycled materials. In addition, each costume worn by a Cast Member working at EPCOT’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is made with over 70% recycled materials.

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Aside from costumes, other items throughout Disney theme parks can be found made with 100% recycled materials, such as aprons worn by food and beverage teams as well as actual merchandise sold at Tokyo Disney Resort and Disneyland Paris.

RELATED: Walt Disney World Cast Members Go Above and Beyond with Their Commitment to Environmentality

As Earth Month ends, it’s important to realize that all of us help create a cleaner, greener world. Whether we are Cast Members, Guests, or corporations, we can all do our part.