Reffnet-Fall Sustainable climbing holds

Climbing holds from the company Auftriib

As part of a Reffnet consultation, we have Performance in their efforts to develop sustainable climbing holds. Today, most climbing holds are made of polyurethane or polyester. After heavy wear and tear, in the event of damage or when the climbing holds become "out", the old holds are burned. Auftriib now aims to develop a sustainable, if possible circular climbing hold. The first prototype they have developed consists of a bio-based matrix mixed with mineral fillers. As with conventional climbing holds, the grip is formed using a silicone mold and then cured.

Evaluation and opportunities for improvement

With the help of a Life cycle assessment we assessed the ecological impact of this climbing hold and identified possible improvements. Our analysis showed that the impact of the vegetable oil accounts for the largest part of the total environmental impact of the Auftriib hold. There are two ways to reduce this impact:

1. The previously used oil is replaced by another oil that has less environmental impact. It needs to be clarified whether the possible alternatives have the same properties as the vegetable oil currently used and could be used 1:1 as a substitute in the handle.

2. To close the loop, it would make sense to check whether the handles could be made from oil waste or residues. However, this would only be possible if the residues or waste had the same properties as the original oil.

It was also found that the service life of the handle is a decisive parameter. The longer the handle is in use, the better it is for the environment. It therefore makes sense to consider how handles can be recycled during production so that they can be used for as long as possible. Conventional PU handles wear out through use and become slippery and unusable, so they have to be discarded. The opposite tends to happen with Aufriib handles. The matrix wears away and the grips become more structured. If the structure becomes too strong, the handle can be refurbished so that it regains its original functionality. The aim would therefore be for the Auftriib handles to be returned to the producers, where they can be reconditioned and redistributed if necessary. It may be worth considering a "climbing holds as a service" business model.

Contact person

Dr. Maja Wiprächtiger (maja.wipraechtiger@realcycle.ch, +41 44 537 82 81)

Client

Auftriib GmbH (via Reopens)