New Zealand outdoor and adventure retailer Torpedo7 and wool engineering company Shear Edge have unveiled the world’s first kayak made with wool.
Named after a New Zealand owl, the Kakapo Woollen Single Kayak uses a 35 per cent natural wool fibre embedded in high-density polyethylene, replacing 2kg of plastic – equivalent to 400 plastic bags.
Simon West, CEO at Torpedo, shares that kayaking is a popular sport in the country, and the company is excited to provide kayak enthusiasts with a riding option kinder to the environment they paddle in.
“Our team alongside Shear Edge have been working hard to innovate a kayak that has a reduced environmental impact and doesn’t sacrifice on performance,” explains West.
“To develop the world’s first woollen composite kayak that is 100 per cent Kiwi made is a huge feat for our team and just one example of how we’re pushing the boat out with our product designs and sustainability goals. We’re committed to bringing Kiwis the best adventure gear for New Zealand’s unique climate.”
The kayak is coloured green, black and beige to signify Kiwi innovation and the importance of Kaitiaki, the company said.
Thomas Nye, head of marketing and operations at Shear Edge, said that the partnership was a no brainer.
“Everything we do is centred around our goal to accelerate the world’s transition to more natural, renewable materials. We know collaboration is the key to pushing meaningful change,” he said.
“Like our friends at Torpedo7, we believe that New Zealand is the most epic outdoor playground globally. Nye added that the company aims to create products with purpose, and their relationship with Torpedo7 is an opportunity to move forward with the brand’s sustainability journey.
Together, the two proud kiwi brands also offer a circular take-back system, where at the end of the Kakapo kayak’s life cycle, it can be returned to the store and recycled into a new wool composite product.
