These milestones show how relevant circular material solutions have become in the sports sector.
- Official use at the 2024 Paris Olympics
- Use in leading European climbing gyms
- Prix Pierre Portier 2025 - Award for sustainable chemistry
Performance Polymers
Recyclable Climbing Holds:
The Next Step in Sustainable Climbing
From a Sustainability Challenge to a Circular Innovation
Indoor climbing is growing rapidly worldwide, and with this boom comes an increasing demand for materials that are both high-performance and sustainable. Every year, around 15 million climbing holds are produced in Europe, many of them made from non‑recyclable thermoset plastics that must be replaced after only a few months. Three outdoor‑loving innovators - two engineers and a mountain specialist - were frustrated by the sustainability gap in the climbing industry. They founded a company called Ghold to create something bold:
The first 100% recyclable and recycled climbing holds in the world.
And they did.
But it wasn’t a quick win. It took three years of research, dozens of prototypes, and a collaboration that would take the idea to the next level.
TPU Technology Meets Climbing: Performance and Environmental Impact
A decisive breakthrough came in 2021 when the team met Denis Bouvier, the technical developer of Elastollan® TPU at BASF and an experienced climber himself. His practical knowledge and material expertise were directly incorporated into the development process.
I helped Ghold formulate the TPU and supported the young company in optimizing the injection molding technology.
After intensive testing on rock and in the gym, the conclusion was clear: the TPU holds are durable, resistant, and feature a surface that stays dry longer for optimal grip. And most importantly, TPU can be easily recycled.
Sustainability Benefits at a Glance
Environmental Advantages
✓ 100% recyclable and made from recycled material
✓ Can be recycled up to 10 times without performance loss
✓ Carbon footprint reduced by 50% after the first recycling cycle
✓ No metal inserts needed → easier recycling & less resource use
✓ Significantly lower waste impact in an industry that discards ~7 million holds per year
✓ Lower energy & higher efficiency → fast production: 38 seconds vs. 1 hour for traditional holds
Elastollan®, the high‑performance TPU, ensures:
✓ Durability equal to PU
✓ Dry surface feel for better grip
✓ Resistant hardness (Shore D70–80)
✓ Unbreakable material
✓ High abrasion resistance
✓ Fully recyclable
Born in France, Built for the World
Shaping the new industry standard
Ghold is already advancing the next stages of development:
✓ Larger grip sizes (L–XXL)
✓ Expansion of automation
✓ Regional manufacturing models
✓ Further CO₂ reduction
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