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Environmental responsibility

We are committed to reducing our impact on the environment

needessentials was born from a desire to live simply, consume less and stay connected to community and the natural world.

The concept is to have less, but have what is well made and built to last.

We only produce responsibly sourced, environmentally conscious products, with a focus on function and durability. We don’t produce things you don’t need, like branding, packaging, and single use plastics.

We value the truth and will always speak honestly - no gimmicks, no fads, no green washing, or unwanted advertising.

Ryan Scanlon, Founder and Designer

Only what you need

Conscious design icon

Conscious design

We only use the highest quality materials and manufacturing. We build products that are designed to last longer and are responsibly sourced and ethically produced.

Below are just some of the ways we are working to reduce our impact on the environment, while creating the most functional and durable products possible.

Laurie Towner, Mens Wetsuit Designer and Product Developer

Yulex® logo

Natural Plant Based Rubber

Natural Plant Based Rubber Photo

85% Natural plant based rubber

Forest Stewardship Council approved

Rainforest Alliance certified

Yulex® produces the only commercially available Forest Stewardship Council® certified pure natural rubber materials to create high performing and environmentally sustainable product. Learn more

Available in all needessentials Yulex Wetsuits.

Forest Stewardship Council

Forest Stewardship Council®
certified by the Rainforest
Alliance sources

Forest

Responsible management of the worlds forests.

Responsible management of the world’s forests, bringing together experts from the environmental, economic and social spheres. Learn more

All needessentials Yulex Wetsuits are FSC certified.

Recycled Polyester Yarns

Recycled Polyester Yarns

Recycled Bottle

45 Recycled plastic bottles in each wetsuit

8 Recycled plastic bottles in each boardshort

Recycling PET grade plastic into high-quality fabrics reduces pollution, reduces landfill, and reduces the likelihood of plastic incineration which releases toxic gases into the atmosphere.

Used in all needessentials Boardshorts & Yulex® Wetsuits.

Fair Trade Certified

Fair Trade Certified™

Hand

Improving working conditions for farmers and workers

Empowering customers to invest in the lives and future of workers

Fair Trade™ changes lives. Fair Trade Certified™ products transfer wealth back to farmers and workers in developing countries. Learn more

All needessentials Yulex Wetsuits are certified fair trade.

Limestone Neoprene

Petroleum Free
Limestone Neoprene

Limestone Neoprene

Petroleum free - Limestone insulation

Highest flexibility and warmth

Instead of using harmful petroleum-based chemicals, calcium carbonate from limestone offers a greener alternative than petrochemical based neoprene, also increasing longevity, warmth and flexibility in wetsuit products.

Used in all needessentials limestone wetsuits.

Aqua

Non Toxic
Water Based Lamination Glue

Taped wetsuit seam

Free from harmful chemicals

Replaces traditional solvent based glues

Aqua-A™ lamination glue is water based and completely solvent free with no harmful chemicals. Aqua-A™ replaces traditional solvent based glues in the lamination process.

All needessentials Wetsuits are manufactured in a Bluesign facility.

Bluesign

Manufacturing with the lowest impact on people and environment

Water droplet

Responsible & sustainable manufacturing of textiles

Safe & responsible environments for textile workers

THE BLUE WAY by BLUESIGN represents the vision and mindset of responsible and sustainable manufacturing of textile consumer products. BLUESIGN is a system that provides safer and more sustainable environments for people to work in and everyone to live in. Learn more

All needessentials Wetsuits are manufactured in a Bluesign facility.

Certified 100% Organic Cotton

Certified 100% Organic Cotton

Cotton plant

No pesticides, insecticides or herbicides used in the production of our cotton

No harmful toxins for farmers, workers and customers

No toxins in the ecosystem

No toxic chemicals are used in the growing of organic cotton. It doesn't damage the soil, pollute the air, and uses 88% less water and 62% less energy. Conventional non organic cotton uses about 16% of the world's insecticides and 7% of pesticides.

Used in all needessentials cotton clothing

Hemp icon

Natural Hemp Fabric

Hemp picture

Natural fabric free of micro plastics

Four times strength of cotton

UV and mold resistant

Hemp has four times the strength of cotton, which greatly increases the lifespan of the product. Hemp requires less than half of the water used to grow conventional cotton making it a more environmentally friendly fabric choice.

Featured in all needessentials Hemp clothing

Car tyre icon

Colorants made from recycled car tyres

Car tyres

Recycled rubber colorants from used car tyres

Reduces energy consumption and Co2 emissions

Reduces landfill waste

Colorants made from recycled car tyres reduces landfill waste and significantly reduces energy consumption and Co2 emissions.

Featured in all needessentials wetsuits

Recycled icon

Repair & end of life recycling

Recycled matting

We repair old wetsuits to help extend the product's life

We recycle wetsuits at the end of their life

We can recycle your wetsuit at the end of its natural life. We donate it to be recycled into rubber floor matting, the kind used in children's play areas, gym floors and exercise mats.

Contact Us

Conscious design icon

Only what you need

No fads, no gimmicks, no sales pitches, no single use plastic packaging, no hang tags, no advertising materials, no paid promotions and no stickers.

Compostable Bag logo

100% Compostable Mail Bag

100% Compostable Mail Bag Photo

Plant based 100% compostable mail bag

We are single use plastic free

Can be composted at home, when you’ve finished using the bag, just put it in with your food scraps and garden waste, and before you know it, worms will be eating the mailbag for breakfast. Better for the environment, better for our oceans.

Recycled icon

Cardboard Recycling

Cardboard

100% of our cardboard and paper used in shipping is recycled post warehouse use

We recycle 100% of the cardboard and paper that is used in our warehouse. Making the pulp used in cardboard creates sulfur dioxide, a gas that causes acid rain. Recycling cardboard cuts that pollution in half.

Solar icon

Solar Power Manufacturing

Solar panels

Manufactured in a solar powered facility

All needessentials wetsuits are manufactured in a facility powered by solar energy.

Conscious design icon

Community

We are committed to working with community and environmental groups.

To help protect the natural world and support vulnerable people we have designed a range of products dedicated to giving back, and 100% of profits from these products are donated to charity. We also donate a percentage of the sales from our entire Yulex wetsuit range.

Below are some of the social and environmental charities we are working with to help create a better future for people and planet.

Greening Australia

Greening Australia

Forest

A percentage of sales from our Yulex range of wetsuits is donated to Greening Australia

Restoring native plants and trees to sequester carbon

Working to develop practical solutions to some of Australia’s biggest environment challenges so that people and nature can thrive.

Learn more

Surfaid

Surf Aid

Hands picture

All profits from the sale of our Surf Wax are donated to Surfaid

Empowering and supporting remote local communities

SURFAID empowers and supports remote communities for lasting improvement in the health, wellbeing and resilience. Implementing community-led development programs that are clear in their goals, effective in their implementation and subject to continuous monitoring and evaluation.

Learn more

Surfrider

Surfrider Foundation

Ocean waves lineup

100% of profits from the sale of our Surf Hat are donated to the Surfrider Foundation

Helping to protect oceans from pollution

Helping to protect waves from development

Providing education about ocean plastics

To help inspire an engaged surfing and coastal community who are passionate about protecting oceans, waves and beaches.

Learn more

SEED mob

SEED mob

Bushland

100% of profits from the sales of our Beanies are donated to Seed Mob

Seedmob are an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth group working for climate justice. Seedmob is committed to working towards a more sustainable and connected future, with strong cultures and communities, powered by renewable energy.

Learn more

Save The Bees

Save The Bees

Bee

100% of profits from the sales of our Natural Zinc is donated to Save The bees

Save the Bees Australia is a not for profit social enterprise focused on community education and advocacy for Australian native bees and European honeybees.

Learn more

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