SOÖRUZ WINS EUROSIMA'S CALL FOR INNOVATION PROJECTS FOR THE SECOND TIME!

For the second time, Soöruz© has established itself as a benchmark player in sustainable innovation in our industry by winning theEuroSIMA 2024 Innovation AAP. Already a winner in 2020 for its Oysterprene™ neoprene wetsuits, an alternative to traditional neoprene, the La Rochelle-based brand confirms its pioneering status with a large-scale wetsuit recycling project. Soöruz thus becomes the first company to win this prestigious award twice, underlining its ongoing commitment to innovation and eco-responsibility.

 

 

INNOVATION AT THE HEART OF SOÖRUZ DNA

Since its creation, innovation and research have been an integral part of Soöruz's DNA. The brand is constantly pushing back technological frontiers to create products that meet riders' needs while having minimal environmental impact. Its innovative approach, combining technical performance and eco-design, has positioned Soöruz as a key player in our industry when it comes to sustainability.

En 2020, Soöruz a déjà marqué les esprits avec ses combinaisons en néoprène écoresponsables. L’Oysterprène est un procédé réalisé à partir de poudre de coquilles d’huîtres, offrant une alternative durable au néoprène traditionnel. Ce projet lui avait valu une première reconnaissance lors de l’Appel à Projets Innovation EuroSIMA. En 2024, la marque continue sur sa lancée avec un nouveau projet de recyclage de wetsuits.

 

 

« Chez Soöruz on a placé l’innovation dans l’ADN de la marque depuis 2017. On considère que l’innovation est directement liée à la performance, dont la performance écologique et évidemment l’éco-conception. Tout ça est dans la même « pyramide de l’innovation ». […] C’est notre point de différenciation. » explique Yann Dalibot, co-fondateur de Soöruz.

 

A PROJECT FOCUSED ON THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

L’innovation qui a valu à Soöruz cette nouvelle distinction repose sur la création de tapis de yoga et de dalles de CrossFit à partir de réutilisation de néoprène. Depuis plusieurs années, la marque a mis en place un réseau de collecte de combinaisons usagées auprès d’écoles de surf, de centres de voile et de revendeurs en France et dans plusieurs pays européens. Ce programme permet de réutiliser près de 30 000 combinaisons par an, qui sont ensuite broyées et transformées en une Matière Première de Recyclage (MPR).

 

 

These used suits, once considered difficult-to-treat waste, are now becoming a valuable resource thanks to Soöruz's efforts to reintegrate them into recycled and useful products. The development of the yoga mats and CrossFit tiles is the fruit of many years of research and refinement, in which the company has combined technology and respect for the environment, with the ambition of reusing a material that was previously impossible to recycle in a closed loop.

 

"We set up wetsuit recovery bins throughout our network, as well as in surf, wake and sailing schools. We have recovery partnerships with UCPA centers, for example, and other similar institutions. Last year, this enabled us to collect over 30,000 wetsuits. We recover suits of all brands, as long as they are "quality" suits, because we need a certain quality of material to be able to rework them." Yann Dalibot, co-founder of Soöruz.

 

HIGH VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS

The two flagship products resulting from this project perfectly embody Soöruz's vision of a circular and responsible economy:

• Le tapis de yoga, fabriqué à partir de 50 % de néoprène recyclé et de 50 % d’EPDM (éthylène-propylène-diène monomère), un caoutchouc biosourcé. Conçu pour être à la fois confortable et durable, il s’adresse aux adeptes de sports de bien-être et de plein air qui recherchent des produits techniques respectueux de l’environnement.
• The CrossFit slab is made from 80% recycled neoprene and 20% natural rubber. Each slab requires up to 25 combinations, enabling a large quantity of neoprene to be reused.

 

These products are distinguished not only by their ecological aspect, but also by their technical performance. Soöruz has combined its research and development skills to offer innovative solutions that meet market requirements while reducing environmental impact.

 

« La dalle de cross fit est une des solutions de recyclage des combinaisons parmi les plus efficientes, car elle nécessite 80% de combinaisons recyclées. La dalle est très lourde, il y a besoin de poids, donc on peut vraiment tasser la matière pour recycler beaucoup de combinaisons. On se sert également des qualités isolantes et du moelleux naturel du néoprène. Il faut savoir que pour une salle de cross fit de 400m2, c’est 4000 combinaisons recyclées. Je pense que si on arrive à bien mettre ça en place, si on a des partenaires qui nous rejoignent, on lance d’ailleurs un appel, on pourrait être capables de « nettoyer » ce qu’on produit. » Yann Dalibot, co-fondateur de Soöruz.

 

A LONG-TERM VISION

This second EuroSIMA award testifies to the work and commitment of Soöruz's teams in moving towards a more responsible industry, while maintaining a high level of technical expertise. With its ever more environmentally-friendly solutions, Soöruz is one of the players driving the industry towards more responsible management of materials and resources.

What's more, in a spirit of sharing and collaboration, Soöruz gives access to its innovations to players in our industry, enabling other companies to benefit from these advances and in turn develop more respectful alternatives. This approach is reminiscent of Patagonia©, for example, and underlines the importance of a collective approach to environmental issues.

 

"A few years ago, we won the prize for incorporating oyster shell powder into our wetsuits. The concept was to replace limestone from mines with limestone from recycled oyster shells. We didn't present it this year, but we have another innovation coming this year, our Organic Oysterprene: from 2025, 100% of our wetsuits, from school wetsuits to very high-end wetsuits, will be produced from Organic Oysterprene, a 79%-certified, ultra-high-performance, bio-sourced base. Like Oysterprene, it's a foam we're keeping exclusively for 1 year, after which we'll make it available to the entire market." Yann Dalibot, co-founder of Soöruz.

WELL-DESERVED RECOGNITION

Soöruz demonstrates once again that sustainable innovation is not simply an option, but an inescapable necessity, intrinsic to its DNA and that of our outdoor sports. By evolving in an environment so closely linked to nature, the brand naturally integrates CSR practices into every stage of its development. This approach, in line with the fundamental values of our outdoor sports, resonates with the growing commitments of many players in the sector. The vision of the Soöruz brand confirms that circular and low-impact alternatives are essential to the future of our industry.