Velor launches ‘world’s first fully circular’ jersey in collaboration with GR3N SA

Clothing brand Velor says it has achieved a “significant milestone” in the pursuit of sustainable cycling clothing through the release of its Circular jersey.

The new product is made from recycled jerseys and can be recycled, resulting in what Velor says is an industry-first example of a fully circular jersey.

“In collaboration with GR3N SA, we’ve reimagined the lifecycle of cycling apparel,” it said on its social channels. “Our new circular jersey ensures that old garments are given a second life, significantly reducing waste and minimizing our environmental footprint.”

The merits of a circular economy, and the circular products it results in, has gained traction in the industry in recent years, as we found out earlier in the year when we spoke to Erik Bronsvoort of Circular Cycling. Circular products are designed to have a limited environmental impact at every phase of their lives, from their inception to the end of their lives. This means using environmentally friendly materials and finding a way to reuse the materials at the end of the product’s life.

Using a circular model to produce cycling clothing has proven to be tricky, mainly because most products blend polyester and elastane materials, which aren’t easy to separate for recycling.

Velor says it has found a solution to these problems by teaming up with GR3N SA, which is able to turn old jerseys into polyester pallets. These pallets form the base material for the new jerseys and are spun into yarns, before being woven into fabric. The process doesn’t come with a hit to quality, Velor says, and results in the “same high quality as virgin plastic yarn”.

GR3N SA’s operations are still scaled down at a ‘demo’ level at the minute, but it says it will have a full industrial plant in operation in 2027, allowing it to treat 40,000 tonnes of materials each year.

To aid the process, Velor is asking for cyclists to send in their old jerseys and those who do will receive a discount voucher. Anyone interested can sign up on its website. As an initial target, it is aiming to receive 5000 jerseys.

“This innovation marks a significant step towards transforming the cycling industry from a linear to a circular economy. And we need your help to keep the cycle going! Join our mission by sending in your old jerseys to be part of the next batch of circular jerseys,” Velor said.

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Velor was co-founded by former WorldTour pro Tom Leezer with the aim of producing more sustainable clothing “that combines performance, comfort, and environmental responsibility.” It already sells a range of products but the new jersey is its first fully circular option, although a video explainer on the company’s YouTube channel hints that bibshorts could soon join it. The jersey isn’t available for sale but Velor says it will be available soon.

Velor’s new product is the latest approach to sustainability in the industry at a time when brands are adopting greener methods, like AGU with its recently released Undyed collection. There have also been other stand-out developments, such as Vittoria’s Terreno Pro T60 gravel tyre and Igus’ bike that is made from fish nets.

For all the latest from the world of cycling tech, head over to the tech news section of the GCN website.