UPDATED August 31st, 2010

As divers, surfers and outdoor water enthusiasts, we need good equipment and apparel to keep us safe and comfortable. A wetsuit is an important component but could we be more environmentally-friendly with neoprene? After all, we take up water activities because we love the natural environment and want to do our best to look after it.

Neoprene

Neoprene, the mainstay of wetsuits, are synthetic rubbers made from petroleum. Petroleum is a non-renewable resource. With so many people in diving, surfing and other water sports, there are a lot of neoprene suits in the world. In addition to the material being not-so-eco-friendly, the manufacturing process of neoprene can leave a hefty footprint.

Manufacturers have experimented and substituted other materials.  There have been wetsuits made of lower proportion of neoprene and greater use of other components such as polyester, limestone-based materials and bamboo (See Patagonia’s page on Green Neoprene). But neoprene remains the bulk and mainstay of most wetsuits. There are greener options but for efficiency, it’s hard to beat neoprene.

So there really isn’t a perfect alternative material for wetsuits YET. This is one for the Research and Development folks. But in the meantime, there are simple things we can remember to avoid adding to the landfills and waste mountains with our old wetsuits.

Recycling

Neoprene can be recycled. Its properties make it ideal for recycling. Items made from recycled neoprene include: footwear, laptop covers, medical appliances AND more wetsuits.

Rip Curl, a surf apparel manufacturer, launched a neoprene recycling program in 2007 and last year, their flagship shop in southern England held a national ‘Wetsuit Amnesty’.

Some independent retailers have trade-in schemes and incentives for customers wishing to get new wetsuits. We need more of these efforts from both the retailers and the manufacturers.

If you want to purchase a new wetsuit, ask the shop if they’ll do a trade-in. If not, see if any local sporting good shops have recycling bins for old apparel. In addition, second-hand stores and charity outlets may be willing to take your old suit.

Hold on to your old wetsuits

As with so many items, there are wearers who go with the fashion and throw away the wetsuit as soon as they see another one that they just “like better” or are in the latest cut and style. Visit a dive show and see all the “holiday divers” choosing suits purely based on the latest fashion trends. While it is understandable that looks matter, it really isn’t necessary to change a suit every 50 dives.

By looking after the suits, they will last longer. Wash them after use and dry them before putting them away.

Small rips and tears are repairable. Hats off to all those with old wetsuit patched up. My Rip Curl Wetsuit did great for years of hard wear (2 or 3 wears per day, then being left in damp and hot, often cockroach infested dive shops).

Buy a good wetsuit

The bargain basement suit from a discount store are not good value for money. In order to be durable – and long lasting – the suit has to be made of good quality neoprene with high level workmanship.

Not all neoprene suits are created equal. If a suit is efficiently-insulated, less neoprene material is required to provide the same level of thermal protection.

Like so many things in life, if you buy a good quality wetsuit, it will last you a long time. If we all did this, the landfills would not be as choked up. A wetsuit is an investment for the long haul and we’re paying good money for it.

It’s an investment for the oceans, rivers and lakes as well as for ourselves.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

4 Responses to “Green neoprene – can we be more eco-friendly with our wetsuits?”