MATERIALS AND APPLICATIONS
Launched in 2021, Tecnica Group’ s Recycle Your Boots project has now reached over 28,000 pairs of recycled ski boots. Ecodesign, technology and digital solutions are transforming the ski boot sector, with most of the materials and components now returning to the market. This isn’ t just recycling. It is actual upcycling.
Tecnica Group‘ s Recycle
Your Boots project allows consumers to bring their old ski boots, whatever the brand, to dedicated collection points in shops
THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN THE WORLD OF SKIING
Italian technology plast / April 2025
038
The circular economy has found its way into the world of skiing, thanks to Tecnica Group, one of the main global industrial groups operating in the sports equipment and technical outdoor footwear sector. It is the largest manufacturer in the world in terms of number of boots produced, through its Nordica and Tecnica brands. Given these large numbers, the group wanted to introduce a different model from the traditional take-makedispose one. The Recycle Your Boots( RYB) project, launched by Tecnica Group in 2021, has proven to be particularly innovative and successful. The project has gained momentum as it provides for the recovery and recycling of ski boots, regardless of the brand and model, into regenerated raw materials to be used in the production of new boots and new products for mountaineering activities. Between autumn 2021 and summer 2024, Tecnica Group collected over 28 thousand pairs of used boots in 10 European countries: Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Sweden, Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. The availability of RYB collection points in shops( around 300 across Europe), partner ski resorts, or at special events, allow skiers to drop off their old boots, whatever brand they are. The old boots are then brought to collection points, sorted, disassembled and transformed into secondary raw materials in the form of plastic pellets and aluminium bits ready to be melted down and reused in industrial production. 85 % of the materials collected are returned to the production cycle. In terms of a single boot this percentage means about 2 kg of plastics, 0.5 kg of metals and 0.85 kg of liner material. Recycled plastics are used in particular in some components of new Tecnica and Nordica boots and other items. The boot models
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