Strategic Sports Transitions Black-Lower-Shell Helmets and Visors to Recycled Materials for 2025
Strategic Sports is deeply committed to addressing climate change and adopting sustainable manufacturing practices in everything we do, and we’re proud to announce our latest advancement: all in-molded open-mold models featuring black lower shells will now incorporate post-industrial recycled polycarbonate (PIR PC). Additionally, starting in 2025, all polypropylene (PP) visors will be made from post-consumer recycled polypropylene (PCR PP).
The Environmental Impact of Recycled Materials
Each rPC (PIR or PCR) shell we produce reduces carbon emissions by 89.35 grams of CO2e, an 8% reduction compared to raw polycarbonate materials. For rPP visors, the environmental benefit is a reduction of 2.42 grams of CO2e per visor, a 5% savings over traditional materials. Between January and September 2024, we produced over 207,122 helmets using PIR PC, making a measurable impact. Our adoption of rPP visors will further extend this effort, replacing the 745,728 helmet visors made from virgin PP in 2023 with the more sustainable alternative. When it comes to sustainable manufacturing, every effort can add up to a big impact overall. For example our BioDome materials have netted a 783,819.73 kg CO2 emissions reduction from 2021 to 2023.
“We take immense pride in the progress we’ve made toward sustainability,” says Norman Cheng, Managing Director of Strategic Sports LTD. “These efforts reflect our dedication to not only reducing our environmental footprint but also setting new standards for the industry.”
A Holistic Approach to Sustainability
These initiatives are part of our broader sustainability strategy. Our innovative and award-winning RMR (Recycled Materials Recycled) helmet line is a standout, crafted entirely from reclaimed, recycled, or recyclable materials. We are also compliant with the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) and hold ISO 14001 certification, underscoring our commitment to environmental responsibility.
To further reduce our environmental footprint, we have installed solar panels at all factories, implemented water recycling systems, and optimized our global manufacturing operations in numerous ongoing ways. And with facilities in China, Portugal, and Vietnam, we offer our customers the ability to “right-shore” production, minimizing the environmental impact of their supply chains.
“While we celebrate these achievements, we remain relentlessly committed to finding new ways to innovate and expand our sustainability efforts,” Cheng adds. “Our journey doesn’t stop here—we are constantly exploring how we can do even more for our planet and our industry.”
Leading the Industry Towards a Greener Future
Our leadership in integrating sustainable practices sets a benchmark for the helmet manufacturing industry, if not the outdoor industry as a whole, which is why we were recently named the sustainability partner of the year by Revelyst, a collection of 34 premier outdoor brands including Bell Helmets, Giro, Camelbak and Fox Racing.
By combining advanced materials technology with a commitment to global environmental standards, we continue to demonstrate how innovative solutions can drive positive change. With our latest initiatives, we prove that high-performance helmet manufacturing and sustainability can…and in fact must…go hand in hand.