Close the Loop - Green Business Award

Close the Loop

Mammut Sports Group

How would you describe your solution in a few words?

With Close the Loop, Mammut launches a first circular economy project: worldwide, climbing ropes are made from nylon 6, a petroleum-based fiber with a high CO₂ impact. Mammut is reinventing its core product and closing the material loop.

This process includes a digital rope management service, an established take-back system in cooperation with climbing gyms, stores, and distribution partners (in 14 EU countries by 2023), and a supply chain that ensures the recycling of nylon 6 for high-quality outdoor products. Close the Loop makes an important contribution to Mammut’s NET ZERO strategy and to environmental protection.

Who are your customers?

Those who are moved by mountains and want to move mountains themselves. Whether they dream about conquering summits or experiencing their beauty, what they have in common is the need for premium, sustainable equipment.

What are the environmental benefits of your solution?

Climbing ropes worldwide are made from Polyamide 6. With 32.3 kg CO₂-eq./kg, an average climbing rope accounts for the largest share of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within Mammut’s product portfolio. Production of Polyamide 6 has a significant impact on the global warming potential and on most of the other environmental issues, such as freshwater ecotoxicity according to the IPCC 2013 100a and the EF method.

By establishing a circular product model, environmental impacts of the end-of-life phase of ropes are addressed and impacts through Polyamide 6 production are significantly reduced (-77% CO₂-eq./kg when using chemically recycled yarn instead of virgin Polyamide 6).

How do you manage to exist on the market?

Mammut is a market leader in rope manufacturing. The national and international climate targets will lead to a change in market structures and the use of petroleum-based materials such as Nylon 6.

With the introduction of the project Close the Loop, Mammut is securing valuable raw material, acting according to the climate targets, and developing their product portfolio in a future-oriented way. At the same time, we have noticed that retail partners and mountaineers are very willing to participate in rope collection or even new renting models. Furthermore, the take-back service positively influences the perception and attractiveness of the brand.