With up to a 78%* lower carbon footprint compared to ropes made from 100% fossil-based nylon. We are building demand for recycled inputs, reducing fossil resource extraction, and supporting next-generation recycling technology that can handle materials previously considered non-recyclable.
At Sterling, we've spent decades engineering ropes that climbers trust with their lives. Now, we're applying that same commitment to engineering a better future for our planet.
Our new ECO yarn technology represents a fundamental shift in how climbing ropes are made. We are turning waste that can't be mechanically recycled into high-performance nylon fibers without compromising the strength, handling, or durability you expect from Sterling.
Traditional climbing ropes are manufactured using yarns derived entirely from fossil-based resources. Our ECO yarns take a different path: they're crafted using chemically recycled PA6 nylon derived from end-of-life tire materials through a mass balance process.
Most waste plastics and tire materials can't be mechanically recycled as they're too degraded or contaminated. Instead of ending up in landfills or incinerators, these materials go through an advanced pyrolysis process that breaks them down into base monomers and oils. These recycled inputs then replace fossil feedstock in the production of new, virgin-quality nylon yarn.
Up to 78%* lower carbon footprint compared to ropes made from 100% fossil-based nylon. This reduction has been verified by third-party auditors at Sigma Point, ensuring the environmental benefits are real and measurable.
* The % CO2 reduction from using mass balanced polymer vs virgin polymer is evaluated annually and values may change as measurement accuracy and calculations gets improved.
ECO yarns are manufactured under two globally recognized sustainability certifications for the mass balance process:
Ensures circular, post-consumer recycled content with full traceability through an audited mass balance system. This certification means that while recycled feedstock is integrated at the molecular level during chemical production, every claim about recycled content is verified and traceable through chain-of-custody documentation.
Certifies compliance with renewable-energy-based sustainability standards throughout the production process. Through the mass balance approach, we can verify that our ECO yarns are made from 100% recycled tire materials.
The chemically recycled nylon maintains the same mechanical properties as virgin nylon.
That means:
ECO yarns meet all UIAA and EN standards, undergo the same rigorous quality control, and deliver the performance climbers depend on. From a product standpoint, this is a drop-in replacement for standard nylon. Sustainability without compromise.
When you choose a rope with ECO yarns, you're supporting an advanced circular economy supply chain:
This goes beyond a single rope. We are building demand for recycled inputs, reducing fossil resource extraction, and supporting next-generation recycling technology that can handle materials previously considered non-recyclable.
ECO yarns are part of our broader commitment to sustainable manufacturing practices. Every rope featuring this technology is also made with bluesign® certified raw materials and is PFC and PFOA-free, ensuring we're eliminating harmful chemicals from the production process.
The combination of certified sustainable inputs, renewable energy in manufacturing, and rigorous third-party verification creates a more complete picture of how we're approaching sustainability as a core operational value with full traceability and accountability.
This goes beyond a single rope. We are building demand for recycled inputs, reducing fossil resource extraction, and supporting next-generation recycling technology that can handle materials previously considered non-recyclable.
ECO yarns are part of our broader commitment to sustainable manufacturing practices. Every rope featuring this technology is also made with bluesign® certified raw materials and is PFC and PFOA-free, ensuring we're eliminating harmful chemicals from the production process.
The combination of certified sustainable inputs, renewable energy in manufacturing, and rigorous third-party verification creates a more complete picture of how we're approaching sustainability as a core operational value with full traceability and accountability.
The climbing community has always had a deep connection to the natural world. We climb because we're drawn to wild places, to rock faces and mountain ranges that remind us of something bigger than ourselves.
ECO yarn technology is our way of protecting those places and ensuring that future generations of climbers will have the same opportunities to explore, to challenge themselves, and to find their own connection to the vertical world.
By supporting advanced chemical recycling, certified sustainability systems, and circular economy innovation, we're not just making better ropes. We're helping build the infrastructure for a more sustainable future across the entire outdoor industry.
Every climb is a step forward. With ECO yarns, we're making sure those steps lead somewhere worth going.
Our Limited Edition VR ECO 9.6mm Colombia Rope is the first Sterling rope to feature this groundbreaking technology. It's a competition-ready UIAA certified single rope that proves sustainable innovation and high performance aren't mutually exclusive.
Built on the proven VR9 platform with a mid-range 9.6mm diameter, this rope demonstrates what's possible when advanced recycling technology meets precision rope engineering.
But this is just the beginning. As we continue to develop and scale ECO yarn technology, we're working toward a future where sustainable materials become the standard across our entire line.
Learn more about our VR ECO 9.6mm Limited Edition Colombia Rope and discover how your next rope can make a difference.
* The % CO2 reduction from using mass balanced polymer vs virgin polymer is evaluated annually and values may change as measurement accuracy and calculations gets improved.
