ZONE3 | ZONE GREEN – Sustainability
Our sport is made better by nature. Whether you are on a run along the cliffs of the Dorset Jurassic coast, or taking on the Californian surf, the stunning surroundings we are afforded by our incredible world makes the experience a whole load better. As a brand, we are passionate about protecting our environment for future generations to explore the world through open water swimming and triathlon.
We are taking the first steps on our journey to making our sport more sustainable for future generations to come. We aim to be industry leaders in what it means to explore and embrace the world we live in with products that are designed with you and the planet in mind. So, what are we doing now to make our world a greener place?
Yamamoto B-prene
B-prene is a cutting edge rubber by yamamoto that offers the same quality and performance you know and love from our other yamamoto neoprene wetsuits.
It has one key difference.
Once it reaches the end of its life as a wetsuit it can be added to your normal waste, and in landfill the b-prene will biodegrade by 30% in 522 days. Let's be clear, the suit will ONLY biodegrade once it is disposed of into compostable conditions, and not while it is still in action.
Sustainable plant-based rubber
We are excited to be the first triathlon brand to use YULEX®, a natural plant-based rubber sourced from the Havea tree. The sap of the tree is purified, refined and made into a Yulex dry solid rubber. This material can then be moulded and sliced to a desired thickness and laminated, ready to be manufactured into wetsuits. By using plant-based rubber we can dramatically reduce a suit's CO2 emissions by up to 80%.
Recycled Materials
Our commitment to the planet runs deeper than a single product. Today, more of our collection is made using recycled materials than ever before. You'll find regenerated fabrics across our triwear, swim buoys, changing robes, and more, each selected for its ability to deliver top-tier performance with lower environmental impact.
This is part of our journey toward more responsible design—minimising waste, reducing virgin plastic use, and protecting the environments we swim in.
Protecting Our Oceans with Surfers Against Sewage
At ZONE3, we’re committed to safeguarding our oceans for future generations. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Surfers Against Sewage as part of their Ocean Network, working together to tackle plastic pollution and environmental damage. Recently, our team participated in a beach clean-up event, showing first hand our dedication to cleaner seas. Together, we’re not only protecting the waters we love but also inspiring others to join the fight for a healthier planet.
yamamoto neoprene
Our performance wetsuits are crafted with sustainability in mind. We utilise Yamamoto neoprene, sourced from the highest-grade limestone with 99.7% Calcium Carbonate for its raw material, effectively replacing petroleum-based chemicals. Further, our commitment to eco-friendliness extends to using recycled tires to produce Carbon Black, a critical neoprene ingredient, reducing energy consumption and cutting CO2 emissions by 200g per wetsuit, making our wetsuits both high-performance and environmentally conscious.
Recycled tyres are used to make Carbon Black, one of the key ingredients of neoprene. It can now be pyrolyzed from scrap rubber tires and it significantly reduces energy consumption and cuts CO2 emission by 200g per wetsuit.
Recycled Wetsuit Lining
Water-based glue is used instead of harmful solvent-based glue to bond seams and our linings are made from recycled polyester. In fact, 45 plastic bottles are recycled for every wetsuit lining.
Wetsuit Recycling
ZONE3 has teamed up with Circular Flow to drive a truly global circular economy for neoprene waste, a significant step in wetsuit and neoprene recycling.
Circular Flow's innovative closed-loop recycling process, developed in collaboration with the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy in Bulgaria, aims to divert 8,380 tonnes of wetsuits from landfills annually and we proud to be supporting this journey.
Hydropol™ Technology by Aquapak
Driven by our commitment to environmental responsibility and inspired by the pioneering work of Aquapak - a British company leading the way in eco-friendly solutions - we have embraced sustainable alternative to single-use plastic bags that align with our brand values.
Therefore, we have chosen to use product bags made with Hydropol™ technology. These bags are safe for existing recycling processes and fully biodegradable should they enter the environment. If the ZONE3 product bags enter the natural environment they will completely biodegrade into carbon dioxide, water and mineralized biomass.
supply chain
At ZONE3, we are committed to reducing our environmental impact across every stage of our supply chain.Our wetsuits are crafted with precision in Thailand, Vietnam, and China, ensuring world-class quality while upholding ethical and responsible manufacturing standards.Sustainability is also a key focus in our fulfillment process, which is why we partner with International Logistics Group (ILG) - a fulfillment center that shares our commitment to sustainable operations. ILG actively sources sustainable energy and materials, minimizes waste, and drives industry-leading responsible practices. From 1st April 2025, Fin Sustainable Logistics will handle Next Day and 24-hour deliveries inside the M25 using a 100% electric fleet powered by renewable energy. This partnership strengthens our efforts to reduce delivery emissions, with plans to expand into key UK cities.
Packaging
For packing and shipping we use paper and cardboard packaging that is made from recycled materials by Kite Packaging a leading UK-based packaging supplier.
The Enviro boxes have a heavy-duty single wall structure with the equivalent strength of a double wall cardboard box, which means they use less material and release 30% less CO₂ into the atmosphere during production. We also use carefully selected paper mailing bags with environmentally friendly composition, 100% recyclable and sustainably sourced.
Our story doesn't end there
At ZONE3 we are in the process of researching a number of initiatives that will take us even further on our sustainability journey. Watch this space to be the first to know of our new initiatives.
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