We are going Neoprene Free
THE OCEAN IS OUR PLAYGROUND
Central to WALLIEN is our sustainability mission, based on our love for the sea and our support for marine conservation.
Being water sports enthusiasts, we surround ourselves with our beautiful ocean as frequently as possible.
We deeply respect its critical place in our planet’s ecosystem - the home to around 15% of all species and source of 50% of our oxygen, as well as being our magical playground, and our inspiration for leading a healthy life, mentally and physically.
This has pushed us continually to find more responsible alternatives with less impact on our blue planet.
THE HIDDEN COST OF NEOPRENE
When we launched our brand, we chose to make our wetsuits using Limestone Neoprene, a material known for its premium quality and promoted as the most eco-friendly option available.
But our perspective was transformed when founder Madeleine Wallien met Chris Nelson, the documentary filmmaker behind The Big Sea.
His documentary revealed the shocking truth about the water sports industry’s reliance on neoprene, a material with devastating environmental impacts.
For example its emission of harmful chemicals, leading to higher risks of cancers for people living in the surroundings of neoprene production plants, but also contributing significantly to ocean pollution and climate change.
WHY NEOPRENE IS HARMFUL
Traditional synthetic neoprene is made using a manufacturing process through the polymerisation of chloroprene; a process with an incredibly high carbon footprint.
Neoprene uses non-renewable petroleum or limestone, which has to be either drilled up from the ground or excavated with heavy diesel-fueled machinery. Also, the polymerisation process requires large amounts of energy and chemical additives to turn chloroprene into neoprene.
This non-biodregradability means neoprene and chloroprene linger in our landfills and oceans indefinitely, exacerbating the crisis of plastic pollution. In fact, chloroprene is so non-biodegradable that it has even been used to line landfills in the past, how ironic is that?
YULEX 2.0: THE CLEAN ALTERNATIVE
YULEX2.0 foam is made from liquid latex that is ‘tapped’ (like maple syrup) from the rubber trees Hevea Brasiliensis which absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen.
Compared to polychloroprene, the production of Yulex natural rubber emits at least 80% fewer CO2 equivalent emissions. The plantations are sustainably managed and FSC and/or PEFC certified.
Plus, 50% of Yulex profits are given back to the stakeholders in the supply chain, including the smallholders - the people who grow and sustainably manage the rubber tree plantations.
The proprietary purification process removes up to 99% of impurities including those known to cause Type 1 latex allergies.
WE ARE GOING NEOPRENE FREE IN 2025
WALLIEN was the first brand globally to incorporate YULEX 2.0 into wetsuits, starting with our Horizonia line. We launched our first YULEX suit in September 2023 and have since been committed to fully transitioning our product line to YULEX.
Currently, about 50% of our products use this material, and we expect to complete the transition by the second half of 2025.
WHAT'S NEXT
At WALLIEN, our passion lies in the constant pursuit of progress, innovation, and positive change.
We recognize that the industry still has a long way to go, but we are committed to raising awareness about the impact of neoprene and advocating for positive change for both people and the planet.
In addition, we're working on new wetsuit models featuring Yulex 2.0, aiming to bring them to market as quickly as possible.
Lastly, we will continue to make sustainability a conscious part of every decision we make, from better designs and cleaner manufacturing processes to recyclable or biodegradable packaging and meaningful partnerships that positively impact the environment and the communities we live in.
