Creating new from old. Delivering dramatic reduction of the environmental impact of water sports that involve neoprene, and working with global innovators in this space.
Sustainable global circular economy for neoprene waste
Stop millions of wetsuits ending up in landfill.
Stop 60,000 tonnes of neoprene items going to landfill annually.
Expand circular offer from water sports to all neoprene based products.
Reduce global carbon emissions, contribute to the global net zero carbon goal.
Our Partners
More than just recycling, we are truly circular
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We wanted to talk about our partnership with Alpkit, who remain open to receiving your old wetsuits! The process couldn’t be simpler:
* Drop off your wetsuit at one any of Alpkit’s 10 stores or locations, or send it direct to their HQ using their returns service
* They’ll sort it and send to Circular Flow
* We will turn your old wetsuit to new neoprene products that can be recycled and reused between five and seven times, via a process that involves zero waste and zero non-renewable energy
The importance of repairs shouldn’t be underestimated: Alpkit run a repairs station, so you can see if your wetsuit’s life can be extended before you decide to recycle it with us.
Their brilliant scheme Alpkit Continuum also extends product lifespan via customer donations to their network of charitable partners, making sure all gear donated goes to the people who need it here in the UK.
A message from our friends at Outside:
Got a surfboard or wetsuit that you never use?! Come join us this Saturday (day after tomorrow) for our first big surf swap at Outside!⠀
Bring up to five pre-loved, undamaged wetsuits, boards, gloves, hoods, fins or other accessories to swap, browse the rails & leave with up to five new bits you need. Any left over wetsuits will be sorted and donated to @CircularFlow.ltd, a repurposing project for unwanted neoprene.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Let’s start trading and recycling within the community ! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Entry is free but please register your interest by booking a spot on our website if you are planning to come along so that we have an idea of numbers.⠀
We’re so pleased that Outside are donating all leftover wetsuits from their surf swap to us! Join them this Saturday, where our fantastic partner Simpel will also be attending and sharing their wisdom on:
1. How to choose a new suit
2. How to care
3. How to repair
4. How to swap - with Outside
5. How to recycle⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Circular Flow were delighted to be asked to present our solutions at Innovate UK Business Connect’s Longer in Use and ReUse workshop on Tuesday 26th March in London. The event explored how companies wanting to keep products longer in use and reuse can be supported.
It was a fantastic opportunity to discuss the proprietary technology that allows our recycled neoprene products to be used and recycled again and again, extending the use of the raw material between five and seven times. This a major step forward in CO2 reduction and preventing the extraction of petrochemicals for the manufacture of new items.
Attending the workshop also meant making new connections: we had promising discussions about industrial applications of our recycled materials, and working with an adventure centre in Wales on post-consumer waste collection. So watch this space!
If in the mean time you’d like to know more, do DM us or email Emma, our head of sales and commercial partnerships, at emma.mudge@circularflow.net.
Curious to discover how a pile of tired old wetsuits is transformed into brand new products? Circular Flow’s skilled and innovative team are breathing new life into neoprene that would otherwise have gone to landfill or incineration, or be used for road underlay.
Our photos show the journey that takes place at our recycling facility in Smilyan, Bulgaria: a full mechanical recycling breakdown of suits and off-cuts into granules or chips, which are then re-processed into new, recycled neoprene - rather than simply cutting pieces out of old wetsuits and repurposing them into new products. Our process transforms 100% of the old wetsuits into “new sheets” that can then be made into items such as surfing change mats, koozies, mask straps, beach bags, and many more – as pictured.
Each stage is powered only by solar energy, and also involves no melting, burning or use of hazardous chemicals, Plus, every non-neoprene part of the old wetsuit, such as the plastic or metal zips, are also recycled, so the process is truly zero waste!
From our partners at Bodyline:
For over 40 years Bodyline Wetsuits has extended the life
of wetsuits, keeping them out of landfill for as long as possible.
However, we have always struggled to find an effective solution for beyond repair and end of life wetsuits. That all changed last year when we started working with @circularflow.ltd
We’re delighted to report that so far we have saved over a quarter of a ton (250kg) of neoprene from landfill and incineration through our partnership with Circular Flow.
All the neoprene has been sent to their recycling plant where it will be transformed, with zero waste or burning, into brand new products.
Circular Flow’s work aligns perfectly with our own aim to drastically reduce waste by extending the life of your wetsuit through reliable and cost-effective repairs and alterations.
We’re looking forward to continuing to work with Circular Flow to substantially reduce the environmental impact of neoprene.
Photo credits: @patagoniaeurope @wornwear @mr_guesty @circularflow.ltd
On Saturday 24th February, Circular Flow will be at the Royal Yachting Association Dinghy & Watersports Show at Farnborough International - do come and meet us if you’re also participating, or local to the area.
We’ll be part of a panel discussion at 2.30pm (stand R34), talking about how we prevent tonnes of end of life neoprene ending up in landfill or incineration.
Many thanks to the Green Blue, the RYA’s environmental programme, for supporting our attendance. You can read more about the event, and the Green Blue’s drive for sustainable boating and cleaner, healthier waters, here:
https://thegreenblue.org.uk/sustainability-takes-centre-stage-at-rya-dinghy-watersports-show/
Hopefully we’ll see you there!
We`re delighted to welcome Emma to Circular Flow!
‘After many years working within the surf and outdoor adventure water sports industry, I am excited to be joining the Circular Flow family who are on a mission for a greener, sustainable future.
As head of sales and commercial partnerships I will be building and cultivating client relationships to become truly circular, recycling preloved neoprene into new products, avoiding landfill and together creating a circular economy.
If you’d like to get in touch, drop me an email: emma.mudge@circularflow.net.
"Individually we are one drop, but together we are an ocean.”’ — Ryunosuke Satoro
We just received our latest delivery of neoprene waste for recycling - that’s 21 pallets and approximately 5000kg of neoprene saved from landfill!
Pictured: the delivery arriving at the Circular Flow plant in Smilyan, Bulgaria, and being unloaded and stacked by the facility’s dedicated warehouse team.
Circular Flow will always be committed to zero waste: the black wrapping covering the delivery boxes will be sent to plastic recycling, and all non-neoprene elements of the items themselves, such as zips and buckles, will also be recycled.
If you’re interested in our mission to transform neoprene waste into brand new products - which can then be recycled again up to seven times - with zero waste or burning, we’d love to hear from you. Email us at contact@circularflow.net to get involved, and a member of our team will be in touch asap.
Our neoprene recycling facility in Smilyan, Bulgaria, is now fully solar powered! We’re very excited and gratified to say that we are not reliant on fossil fuel-based energy, and instead can ensure a positive effect on the planet through the energy we use.
We’re committed to mechanically recycling neoprene without any melting, burning or use of hazardous chemicals - so it’s only the logical next step to choose a form of renewable energy that also generates as little waste and pollution as possible.
A reminder that our brilliant partner Simpel’s new wetsuits are live and available for delivery from their website.
Their wetsuits prioritise warmth, comfort and durability, while also using Yamamoto neoprene, which has a longer lifespan than traditional neoprene and is able to be recycled. This also makes for a wetsuit that`s light and flexible.
You can discover more about our wetsuit recycling partnership with Simpel on our website ♻️
Here`s another way we`ve been transforming neoprene waste into brand new products - from old wetsuits to car seat covers...
A reminder that we`re always delighted to hear from you if you would like to know more or get involved. Email us at contact@circularflow.net and a member of our team will be in touch asap.
We keep moving forward with turning neoprene pre-production waste and end of life suits into new, useable consumer products - as you can see from our before and after photos!
Please contact us if you would like to register interest in the brands that will be bringing product to market in 2024, or would like to get involved. We would love to hear from you and continue the fight to stop neoprene going to landfill or incineration.
