Supported by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme, the project aims to tackle an estimated 380 tonnes of non-recyclable neoprene generated each year. With 50% of the waste originating in Cornwall, Suez said the county has become somewhat of a “wetsuit graveyard”.
The Wetsuit Reuse Scheme has received £116,000 from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme, a £137m local investment fund managed by Cornwall council and funded by the government’s UK Prosperity Fund.
Repair workshop
The scheme will see dedicated wetsuit recycling bins placed at Cornwall council household waste recycling centres, managed by Suez. The discarded suits are then collected and transported to a repair workshop in Newquay. A team will be responsible for cleaning and mending the wetsuit for resale at the charity’s high street store.
Prices range from £20-£60 – a massive cost saving compared to the average £420 people can expect to pay for a new wetsuit. Those that are beyond repair will be upcycled into new products, such as bags, pillow and mats.
If successful, The Wave Project and Suez have said they hope to roll out similar programmes nationwide.
Surf therapy
All profits are said to be funding the charity’s programmes, one of them being surf therapy – an established and evidence-based form of therapeutic support for both mental and physical health.
Ramon Van de Velde, chief executive officer at The Wave Project, said: “The Wave Project improves the health and wellbeing of children throughout the UK with surf therapy and the healing powers of the ocean. This pre-loved wetsuit scheme not only raises vital funds to enable the charity to help more children.
“It also makes the sea more accessible to people who can’t otherwise afford wetsuits, and of course importantly takes neoprene out of the waste-cycle. This really is a win-win-win. We are really grateful to the government’s Good Growth Fund and Suez for providing the funding to kick-start this project. If the Cornwall pilot proves successful, we hope to roll it out nationwide.”
Craig Mouatt, processing contract manager for Suez in Cornwall, said: “As a triple bottom line business, we are always looking for innovative ways to protect the planet whilst supporting the communities we serve, and through this initiative we can help raise funds to support the important work The Wave Project does whilst enhancing and protecting the environment. We look forward to continuing our relationship with The Wave Project to transform lives through surf therapy.”
As well as the previously mentioned funding, the pilot project was also helped by a £22,500 donation from Suez and £7,500 from The Wave Project.
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