In the superyacht and performance sailing sectors, rigging is engineered for reliability, strength and longevity. Yet despite its sophistication, rigging has traditionally followed a linear lifecycle: manufacture, use, replacement and disposal.
RSB Rigging takes a more complete view of rigging management.
By partnering with specialist recycler SWIFT Fiber, RSB supports a structured, industrial-scale solution for the responsible end-of-life treatment of high-performance rigging and ropes, ensuring that materials which were once difficult to recycle are handled with the same technical care as they receive during service.
This is not a symbolic sustainability initiative. It is a practical, commercially integrated approach to managing the full lifecycle of advanced rigging materials.
When high-tech rigging reaches the time for responsible recycling
Modern yacht rigging increasingly relies on advanced fibres such as PBO (Zylon®), Kevlar®, Technora® and Vectran®. These materials deliver exceptional tensile performance and weight reduction, but they cannot be treated as conventional waste.
Historically, decommissioned rigging cables and ropes were stockpiled, downcycled or sent to landfill due to their composite construction and fibre complexity.
RSB recognised that responsible rigging does not end at removal or replacement. What happens after decommissioning must be managed with the same level of technical consideration as installation and maintenance.
How the process works
The RSB–SWIFT Fiber process is operationally simple and transparent.
Decommissioned cables and ropes are collected by RSB and packed on pallets, in crates or bulk bags. SWIFT Fiber is informed of dimensions and weight, after which they arrange and fund transport to their facility in the Netherlands. The materials are processed industrially, and the client receives confirmation of net recovered weights and value.
Recycling is encouraged as part of our commitment to responsible material reuse. While SWIFT Fiber offers a small financial incentive per kilogram for returned PBO/Zylon® and Kevlar®, this compensation should be seen as a bonus rather than the main purpose — the core objective is to keep valuable materials in the loop.
For clients, this means end-of-life care is both measurable and financially transparent.
From rigging to reusable raw material through the recycling of Aramid Fibre and Kevlar
At SWIFT Fiber, recovered rigging and rope undergo sorting, fibre reclamation, cleaning, cutting and milling.
The resulting outputs include milled fibre, short-cut fibre and pulp, which are reintegrated into manufacturing across multiple sectors, including:
- Heat-resistant gloves
- Industrial oven seals
- Reinforced plastics and rubbers
- Technical papers
- Automotive brake pads
This ensures that decommissioned rigging becomes part of a circular materials stream rather than a disposal liability.
Environmental performance
The environmental benefit of this process is quantifiable.
SWIFT Fiber’s recycled para-aramid pulp reduces CO₂ emissions dramatically compared to virgin material. This reduction is TÜV certified and validated using BASF methodology, providing independently verified environmental data for RSB clients’ sustainability reporting.
What this delivers for RSB clients
Through this programme, RSB enables clients to:
- Implement a defined end-of-life pathway for high-performance rigging
- Achieve traceable recycling and material recovery
- Reduce the environmental footprint of refit and replacement projects
- Generate financial return on decommissioned materials
- Support ESG and sustainability objectives with verifiable data
Responsible rigging in practice
For RSB Rigging, responsible rigging means considering the full material lifecycle, not only performance in service.
By working with SWIFT Fiber, RSB integrates established industrial recycling processes into its rigging operations, ensuring that high-performance materials are managed responsibly throughout the life-cycle of the rigging.
Contact us to learn more: projects@rsb.rigging.com
