Switzerland-based mountain sports outfitter Mammut is enhancing sustainability and performance with its new Mammut Loopinsulation, debuting for the 2024 winter season. This innovative insulation, developed in collaboration with Austrian rope manufacturer Teufelberger, is made from production scraps from industrial rope manufacturing. The scraps are mechanically recycled without chemicals, turning them into high-quality insulation.

The initiative is part of Mammut's broader strategy to address its carbon footprint. An analysis in 2018 identified rope manufacturing as a significant source of CO2 emissions, prompting Mammut to explore recycling options. The result, Loopinsulation, represents a major advancement in circular and resource-conscious material reuse.

One example of Loopinsulation in action is the Sender IN Hooded Jacket, which features both Loopinsulation and a recycled, wind- and water-repellent outer shell. This development marks a significant step toward Mammut’s goal of a fully circular, eco-friendly production process.

For the upcoming season, Mammut has successfully recycled 12 tons of rope scraps into insulation material. The process required overcoming challenges related to variations in rope diameter, quality, and color, demonstrating the complexity of achieving a circular economy.