Our Mission is to stop the hundreds of tonnes of neoprene going to landfill each year. To create a network of collection points and hubs which make it easy to donate and then up-cycle old wetsuits. Because we believe if there was an option to recycle wetsuits then people would.
The problem Whether you are a triathlete, surfer, sailor or diver…the cold European waters means that we all depend on wetsuits to be able to do the sport we love. But the fact that there are very little options for an old wetsuit leads to most neoprene ending up in landfill or the incinerator. It is estimated that 380 tonnes of wetsuit waste is put in landfill each year. While there are companies leading the way creating alternative materials for wetsuits, it is still in its early stages so these options are currently very expensive and there is nothing in between.
The solutions We want to bridge the gap between the current and the new system: by up-cycling old neoprene into quality products. The network will be a decentralised system, removing excessive transportation, keeping it local and small scale. The hubs will be a space where material is collected, sorted - fixed and re-homed 0r shredded and given a new life. It will also be a centre where you can learn how to fix a wetsuit, providing workshops and inspire people to get involved.
The Model We plan to establish the first hub on the Spanish island of Lanzarote (a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve) with a collection system covering the Canary Islands. Then extending to cover Europe.
We will use the sustainable energy sources on the island to power the hub (solar, wind)
Built With
- english
- ilabceu
- spanish
- tu-polimer-enigeneering-dept
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