ALLIED Feather + Down, NetPlus®, PERTEX, and Resortecs, leaders in circularity, recycling, and advanced materials, are joining forces with the Swedish backcountry ski apparel makers at Peak Performance to introduce a paradigm-shifting circular jacket.
Until now, performance products that combine multiple materials, such as natural down insulation, zippers, and elastic trims, have been nearly impossible to recycle due to the complexity of disassembly at the end-of-life. By working with the circularity leaders at ALLIED, NetPlus, and Resortecs, Peak Performance designed and built the R&D Helium Loop Anorak, proving that advanced design, in collaboration with the right partners, can create real change.
“For years now, brands have wanted to introduce more circularity into their products, but the onus has fallen on their ingredient partners and startups to make that happen,” said Matthew Betcher, Creative Director with ALLIED. “The reality is that garments need to be designed for circularity before any sense of recyclability can even start to be possible. That is why we are excited to bring our areas of expertise as innovative ingredient brands to Peak Performance to build, from the very beginning, a truly circular product. And what is even more exciting is that this project can stand as a beacon for entire product lines in the future.”
Each Peak Performance partner brings a unique aspect to this product.
ALLIED supplies the 800-fill power down, which is a renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable insulation, making it perfect for this collaboration. NetPlus is fishing net waste, rescued before it pollutes the ocean, re-engineered into 100% PCR nylon yarn. NetPlus yarn is then woven by PERTEX to create the shell and liner for the Helium Loop. Resortecs makes Smart Stitch™, a heat-activated thread that enables easy material separation. At the end of the product’s lifespan, the stitching melts away with Smart Disassembly™ under controlled conditions, allowing the down plumes and shell material to be taken apart and recycled individually.
Speaking about the project, designer Marie Andersson commented, “The core insight is that true circularity isn’t about accepting compromises, it’s about engineering garments to be unmade as thoughtfully as they’re made. Our R&D Helium Loop proves that when premium materials meet thoughtful disassembly design with end-of-life in mind, circularity becomes a performance advantage as every component maintains its highest value across multiple lifecycles.”
David Stover, CEO of Bureo, the company behind NetPlus, added, “The Helium Loop R&D project demonstrates how responsible materials and design can prevent pollution and reduce reliance on fossil fuels – a win for the outdoor community. Technical outerwear is typically built from crude oil (virgin plastic), an outdated model that negatively impacts people and the planet through the entire supply chain. By connecting better materials with thoughtful design, the Peak Performance team was able to explore the worthwhile challenge of building products suited for end-of-life recycling and push forward on the industry transition away from fossil fuels.”
The Helium R&D Helium Loop Anorak marks another step in Peak Performance’s long-term commitment to total range circularity by 2030.
About Peak Performance
Born in the Swedish mountains out of a love for skiing in remote, untouched terrain, our passion for adventure and nature runs deep. Our purpose is simple: we bring the freeride spirit to the world. As for our products, they all have the same purpose – empowering the freedom to be adventurous and follow your own line. Whether it be on skis, by bike, or on foot, they offer a perfect balance of style and performance. Our Scandinavian heritage is ever present and our commitment to doing better things in a better way is our never-ending responsibility.
About ALLIED Feather + Down
Founded in Vernon, Calif. in 1987, ALLIED has been responsibly sourcing and sustainably processing down while simultaneously driving innovation within the insulation market for over 30 years. The family owned and operated business has earned the reputation as the largest, most reliable and most responsible supplier of raw material in the industry. Through the creation of programs such as the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) and TrackMyDown, ALLIED is committed to safeguarding the welfare of animals while protecting the environment. ALLIED remains a family-owned company with facilities worldwide and is proud to produce the highest quality down technologies demanded by the most discerning brands in the outdoor, hospitality and fashion marketplaces. To learn more about ALLIED, please visit www.alliedfeather.com.
About NetPlus®
We’re a global collective of fishing communities, engineers, and environmentalists working to prevent fishing net pollution before it happens. We collect fishing nets at the end of their life, break them down to their raw molecules, and reform them into good-as-new nylon. Ready to restart life as products by forward-thinking brands. We’ve built a new kind of supply chain–one that’s reliable, transparent, and scalable. With responsibility woven in from sea to stitch. Learn more at netplus.co
About Resortecs
Resortecs offers pre- and post-consumer textile waste management services for the fashion, workwear, bedding and automotive industry. The company offers heat-activated stitching threads (Smart Stitch™) and thermal disassembly systems (Smart Disassembly™) that enable easy, automated textile recycling on an industrial scale. Resortecs’ mission is to lead the textile industry towards full circularity by facilitating Design-for-Disassembly (DFD).
