It looks as though neoprene may go the way of the dinosaur. Photo: XCEL
XCEL, one of the most respected wetsuit brands in the surf industry, announced last week that it would cease using neoprene in its products by the year 2026. The brand hopes to make its suits more environmentally friendly as soon as possible.
“We have been committed to making a more responsible wetsuit for several years, and are 80 percent there today with a number of eco components in our current line,” said XCEL’s Head of Product Lance Varon. “We already use dope-dye yarns, water-based glues, eco carbon black, and oyster shell processing in all of our suits. And now we are finalizing the testing of natural neoprene-free materials that deliver the world class performance that our core surfers require in terms of stretch, warmth and durability, at the right price point.”
Performance seems to be the optimal word here and it sounds as if XCEL has finally found the materials it’s been looking for to offset the harsh environmental impacts of neoprene while not losing any of its versatility that the high-performance surfer has come to expect.
The announcement comes on the heels of several notable news hits in the industry, including the release of the film The Big Sea, which examines the cancer-causing properties of neoprene and the manufacturing impact on a Louisiana town – as well as brands like Patagonia proselytizing the benefits of the latest generation of Yulex materials.
All in all, a solid move from XCEL, a leader in the traditional wetsuit market.
