An Eco-Conscious Guide to Sustainable Wetsuits

Unless you're lucky enough to do all your surfing in the tropics, you’re probably more than conditioned to put on a wetsuit every time you go surfing. 

Whether this be a 5/4 with a hood accompanied by a pair of booties and gloves, or you can get away with a spring suit at your local surf, you’re probably used to relying on neoprene to stay warm out in the lineup. 

And while neoprene is good at providing insulation…it’s not so good for the planet. 

The good news is — you don’t have to choose between hypothermia and sustainability. In recent years forward-thinking minds across the surf industry have developed eco-friendly wetsuits that are just as effective as the wetsuits you know and love. 

Why are most wetsuits so bad for the planet?

Most wetsuits are made from neoprene, a synthetic, rubbery, somewhat-stretchy material that acts as a skin tight barrier between you and the ocean.

Neoprene works by allowing some water to pass through it, which then becomes trapped and heated by your body temperature to keep you warm— but you already know all this if you're a surfer. 

What you might not know, is that neoprene isn't biodegradable or compostable. Around 400 tons of it end up in landfills each year, and once a wetsuit makes it there it’ll take hundreds of years to decompose. 

Still, the harms of neoprene wetsuits start long before they reach the landfill. 

Usually derived from crude oil, or sometimes limestone — a material that is only marginally less harmful to the environment — neoprene is environmentally harmful from conception. 

The extraction process of these materials from the earth is highly carbon intensive and often puts ecological habitat at risk. During the transport process of crude oil, spills can occur which can enter waterways and harm marine life, and sensitive ecosystems are often cleared for material transport. 

Once the materials to create neoprene have been extracted, the wetsuit production process is highly energy intensive and emits toxic gasses. 

Then of course once a wetsuit gives out, usually getting no more than a few seasons in good shape (if you're lucky)— it’s off to the landfill. 

Who makes sustainable wetsuits?

The most sustainable wetsuit is one the one you already own. That means that keeping your current wetsuit for as long as it's functional— and repairing it when you can— is the most eco-conscious option. 

Buying from the second hand market is also better than buying new— and can save you a lot of money. There is no shortage of lightly used wetsuits in great condition ready to be rehomed.

Though if buying a new suit is a must — buy from a brand that is looking out for the earth. 

Here's a list of brands who are doing just that: 

Patagonia

In 2012, Patagonia partnered with Yulex to create non neoprene wetsuits with surfers in mind. Yulex is a natural rubber made from hevea trees, replacing the traditional harmful qualities of neoprene with a greener option.

Patagonia also reuses materials from retired Yulex suits, to keep what’s already been produced out in the water for as long as possible. 

Check out their full collection of 85% neoprene free suits here.  

C-skins NuWave Line

Another natural rubber line, Nuwave, also utilizes rubber made from trees, rather than crude oil or limestone.

They emphasise the quality of their natural suits and challenge customers to tell the difference between traditional neoprene and their latest NuWave line! These suits are also a bit more budget friendly than other alternatives. 

Check out their full collection of 100% neoprene free suits here.

Billabong Furnace Natural

Billabong has long been recognized as a favorite wetsuit brand for surfers— and in 2020 they joined the sustainability movement, dropping their Furnace Natural line.

These are considered to be just as lightweight and stretchy as their traditional neoprene suits, and still contain Billabong’s classic warm graphene lining.

Check out Furnace Natural Story here.

The Bottom Line: Environmentally Friendly Wetsuits 

Wetsuits aren’t going away anytime soon— but neoprene could. Plant-based insulation technologies are the next step towards surf sustainability, and are giving traditional neoprene a run for its money.