Patagonia Develops ‘End-of-Life’ Recycling Solution For Wetsuits

Amongst the waste and pollution that a life of surfing entails – from buying boards built from noxious materials, to hopping on smog-spewing planes to chase swells – wetsuits pile up over the years. And when their usage comes to an end, most of the time, they end up either collecting dust in a garage or buried in a landfill somewhere.

But Patagonia, ever the eco-warriors, are seeking to change that cycle. Earlier this year, the Ventura-based company began collecting wetsuits made from Yulex, or natural rubber, and through a collab with Bolder Industries, they began breaking them down to the molecular level. Specifically, the recycled rubber is being used as carbon black, or the dying process of future Yulex wetties. Full circle; an old suit becomes new again.

“We hope that this breakthrough in recycling and circularity will go well beyond the surf industry and will eventually be implemented across countless product sectors,” said Patagonia Surf Product Line Manager, Hub Hubbard. “We have successfully piloted this program using reclaimed carbon black (RCB) from retired Yulex® wetsuits as a main component in wetsuits and that cycle can repeat indefinitely.”

Previously, when Patagonia embarked on a quest to make more environmentally-friendly, neoprene-free wetsuits, they partnered with Yulex in 2008. Their solution? Natural rubber from hevea tree sap, as opposed to crude oil. Then, once they developed the neoprene alternative, they released it into the wild, giving the recipe to the wetsuit industry at large. Many companies jumped onboard, creating their own Yulex suits.

Now, with the new recycling initiative, Patagonia is inviting other companies to join them once again in creating high-quality, neoprene-free, reclaimed rubber.

“Yes, other brands have offered wetsuit collections for recycling, but the wetsuits have so far only been broken down mechanically into things like yoga mats and playground material,” Hubbard continued. “We are constantly working to reduce our impact and share solutions within the industry. Currently, we are collaborating with multiple brands to convert their wetsuits to Yulex® and implement this program with Bolder Industries, providing a sustainable end-of-life solution.”

The first Patagonia wetsuits made with reclaimed carbon black are set to be sold in the spring of 2025. 

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