Future Fibres Network Plus announced its support for eight mini projects aimed at embedding environmental science at the heart of the fashion and textile industry.
As we know, neoprene is one of the hardest materials to recycle, with over 380 tonnes being burned or sent to landfill each year in the UK alone. This challenge is what continues to drive our work at Circular Flow, where we have been focused on dramatically increasing the amount of neoprene that gets recycled rather than simply thrown away. At our facility in Bulgaria, old neoprene has already been transformed into new products, but the opportunity to do more, closer to home, has been clear.
Recognising the UK as a hub for some of the world’s most popular surfing locations, the potential for local recycling infrastructure is significant. That’s why we were pleased to be involved in a project selected as one of eight funded by Future Fibres Network Plus, focused on developing the UK’s first wetsuit recycling facility. These projects collectively aim to make environmental science a core part of the UK fashion, apparel, and textile sectors.
As part of this initiative, the University of Plymouth partnered with Circular Flow to explore the feasibility of a UK-based neoprene recycling facility, helping to make the surfing and diving industry more circular and sustainable.
Through this work, Circular Flow has been actively exploring how to shape the future of neoprene recycling in the UK, supporting efforts to close the loop for wetsuits and waterpsorts products closer to home. Working alongside leading academic and industry partners, the research has examined the practical, commercial, and environmental opportunities for recycling neoprene domestically, while supporting brands, retailers, and the wider watersports industry to move beyond landfill and incineration.
This project represents a critical step towards building scalable, local infrastructure that can make true circularity possible at an industry level.
We’re proud to have worked with the University of Plymouth and Future Fibres Network Plus to improve circularity and keep even more neoprene out of landfill.
To find out more about Future Fibres Network Plus, visit:
www.futurefibresnetworkplus.com
Learn more about the project →
Enhancing circularity in the surfing and diving industry – Network Plus Knowledge Portal
