Eco-friendly combination
- Alex Dubreuil
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Because everything we do has an impact on the planet.
Isothermal suits are generally made of neoprene . They are designed to trap a thin layer of water between the skin and the neoprene, which the body warms and which thus acts as thermal insulation.
Neoprene is the oldest synthetic rubber, invented in 1930 by scientists at DuPont. Since the 1950s, surfers and later paddlers have become hooked on expanded neoprene (a petrochemical derived from crude oil) for its excellent insulation against the cold and its buoyancy. It is a non-renewable material whose manufacturing process consumes a great deal of energy.
Over the past few decades, some companies have begun to offer alternatives to petroleum-based neoprene with materials made from natural resources such as plants or mineral components.
1. Bio-rubber / vegetable rubber / natural rubber without neoprene / naturalprene
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Made from tree sap (like Patagonia's Yulex®), a natural, renewable and biodegradable source.
Yulex®: Made from rubber tree sap, a renewable, non-food crop that uses no pesticides, requires very little water, and whose manufacturing process is less toxic than traditional neoprene. Sourced from Forest Stewardship Council® certified sources by Preferred by Nature™ (therefore harvested responsibly).
The Yulex® production process saves up to 80% of CO2 emissions per suit compared to petroleum- or limestone-based neoprene.
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It is less resistant to degradation than synthetic neoprene.
Rubber cultivation can have environmental and social impacts, particularly in terms of deforestation, water use, and the use of chemicals in cultivation. Working conditions on some rubber plantations can also pose social problems.
Only 4% of the world's rubber plantations are FSC® certified
Rock-based neoprene / limestone neoprene / geoprene / bioprene
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Based on limestone (like NRS Terraprene®), an abundant and unlimited material (constituting approximately 10% of the world's sedimentary rocks).
Terraprene®: warmer, lighter, more stretchy, more buoyancy, more comfort and petroleum-free (compared to petroleum-based neoprene).
Limestone-based neoprene is heated to 1/10 of what is needed for petroleum-based neoprene, thus saving a lot of energy.
Bioprene is a version made from seashells.
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Limestone mining can have environmental impacts related to mining ( due to environmental concerns, underground mining is now preferred) .
According to Patagonia: limestone is not much better for the environment than petroleum-based neoprene since it is non-renewable, difficult, and harmful to extract. Once extracted, limestone requires enormous amounts of energy.
Other considerations
Local business : buy a wetsuit made nearby, like Atlan wetsuits made in Quebec.
Color : Black is by far the most "green" color. Darker colors, in general, fade less and are tinted with less polluting pigments. On the other hand, fluorescent colors are the worst for the environment.
Buy high-end : for durability/reduce waste.
Recycling : for example, Suga Yoga (based in California) makes yoga mats from recycled wetsuits. They have recycled over 100,000 wetsuits so far.
Buy used
Donation : giving away your suit when you no longer need it.
Eco-friendly carbon black : Raw neoprene is yellow, but most neoprene is black. One of the essential ingredients in limestone-based neoprene (carbon black) is what gives it its black color. Some companies use carbon black derived from recycled tire waste.
Packaging : packaging made from recycled materials.
Water-based glue : Water-based glue allows the lining to be glued to the neoprene sheet before it is cut and sewn into a wetsuit, without the use of harmful solvents.
Lining dyeing : some environmentally friendly processes save water, energy and prevent contamination of the rinsing water.
Recycled lining : made from plastic bottles.
Solar energy : a production plant using renewable energy.
PAH-free neoprene : materials certified free of PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons).
Fair trade : for the production of the raw material.
Carbon-neutral shipping
Direct sales : to avoid intermediaries.
Taking care of your wetsuit: how to properly wash, repair and store your wetsuit to increase its durability.
River Concept
At the start of Rivière Concept in 2020, we opted for wetsuits made from synthetic neoprene, but right here in Quebec (reduced carbon footprint related to transportation, support for the local economy, and improved working conditions). It's a common dilemma: buy a less eco-friendly product locally or buy a more eco-friendly product that's imported.
This year, we finally settled on NRS Terraprene® products (limestone-based neoprene) since Patagonia (or others) don't offer products suitable for rafting (they specialize in surfing equipment). It's the best compromise we found.
It's also super interesting to make the connection between the 75-meter limestone cliffs that we find all along our route and the suits made with the same materials that we have on our backs!
Alex
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