Soöruz Ocean Protect, the large-scale neoprene recycling program, gives a second life to your old wetsuits. Visit the Galathea 2023 festival from November 17 to 19 in Hyères to drop off your old neoprenes!
When a wetsuit becomes damaged and it’s time to get a new one, all divers wonder what to do with that neoprene. Until now, there were rather few solutions, none on a large scale for recycling the material. Soöruz, a surf wetsuit manufacturer, decided to create a global neoprene recycling system, whether it comes from surfing, diving, or any other water activity… With the goal of collecting and transforming 20,000 wetsuits in the first year, equivalent to 20 tons of neoprene, this project offers concrete results and promises to develop in the coming years.
Collection points throughout France
To carry out this project, collection points for old wetsuits have been installed throughout France. Everyone is encouraged to drop off unused neoprenes there for free. The whole is then sent to the valorization center in La Rochelle. The wetsuits are then sorted. Those in good condition are donated to the Surfer Solidaire association, some neoprene parts are reused to create upcycled products (covers, bracelets…), but the majority of the wetsuits are stripped of their zippers before being crushed to obtain fine granulate. 100% of the neoprene is thus revalued. This granulate is then used or sold to stuff cushions, poufs, punching bags…
Other uses are currently being developed, including the creation of a material based on cork and granulate. The idea is to find as many uses as possible for this new material and thus allow more wetsuits to be recycled. It is also available for sale to allow any brand wishing to enhance this new product and participate in giving wetsuits a second life!
The magazine Dive!, in partnership with theFrench Office for Biodiversity, the FFESSM of Var et Global Neoprene La Ciotat, is partnering with Soöruz Ocean Protect to offer you, during the Galathea 2023 festival, a collection point. Come drop off your old diving suits, they will be fully recycled afterward! Join us at the Casino forum in Hyères, from November 17 to 29, 2023.
If you can’t make it to the festival, you can find a collector near you ici.
