Peak Performance, the Swedish backcountry ski apparel specialist, has teamed up with four leaders in recycling and advanced materials—ALLIED Feather + Down, NetPlus®, PERTEX, and Resortecs—to introduce a breakthrough in circular design: the R&D Helium Loop Anorak.
Circularity has long been a challenge in performance outerwear. Jackets built with multiple components—down insulation, trims, zippers, elastic, and synthetic fabrics—are extremely difficult to recycle because the materials cannot be easily separated at the end of their lifecycle. This new collaboration addresses that challenge head-on.
According to Matthew Betcher, Creative Director at ALLIED Feather + Down, brands have often relied on ingredient partners to provide circular solutions without changing the product design itself. He explained that recyclability must begin at the design stage, and this project demonstrates what is possible when all partners work together with circularity as the starting point.
Each collaboration partner contributes a critical element:
- ALLIED Feather + Down provides 800-fill power down—renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable—making it ideal for a circular product.
- NetPlus®, created from fishing nets collected before they enter the ocean, converts this waste into 100% post-consumer recycled nylon.
- PERTEX weaves the NetPlus yarn into the outer shell and liner fabric of the anorak.
- Resortecs supplies Smart Stitch™, a heat-dissolvable thread that allows the garment to be easily taken apart at the end of its life using Smart Disassembly™. This enables separate recycling of the down insulation and the shell fabric.
Designer Marie Andersson shared that true circularity is about designing garments to be taken apart as carefully as they are made. She emphasised that the Helium Loop Anorak shows how circularity can enhance performance while keeping each component valuable for multiple life cycles.
David Stover, CEO of Bureo, the company behind NetPlus®, noted that the project reflects how responsible materials and thoughtful product engineering can reduce pollution and dependence on fossil fuels—especially important in an industry still dominated by virgin plastic–based outerwear.
The R&D Helium Loop Anorak represents a meaningful step toward Peak Performance’s goal of achieving full circularity across its product range by 2030. This collaboration sets a clear example for the broader outdoor industry, proving that circularity is not only possible but scalable when design and materials innovation come together from the start.