Dainese, a global leader in helmet manufacturing, has introduced an innovative solution named Life Impacto, aimed at addressing sustainability challenges through the use of recycled materials.
The project is being carried out by a consortium of five entities, including Dainese Group, the SME Innovando, the start-up Re-sport, Misitano&Stracuzzi, and the University of Bologna.
An innovative factory enables the separation of various plastic materials used in helmet production, thanks to biological solvents derived from food industry waste. This process allows for the recovery and reuse of essential plastics like ABS, EPS, and polycarbonate from visors, as well as interior fabrics.
From 5,000 recycled helmets, the process yields 3,700 kg of ABS, 1,056 kg of EPS, and 600 kg of polycarbonate, resulting in a 60% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, a 60% decrease in electricity consumption, and a 50% reduction in water use.
According to Dainese, the project aims ‘to implement a proactive approach to managing end-of-life products, preventing them from becoming waste and developing a sustainable, efficient process to separate and recycle the polymeric materials of which helmet are composed, as well as using the materials obtained through recycling in the manufacture of new helmets or other «green» products’.