In Germany, mountaineering equipment firm Edelrid has introduced climbing rope made from castor oil.
Birdlime 1R 9.8 climbing rope uses polyamide-11 made from castor oil in a process that dates back 80 years. However, the company acknowledges that it is more expensive than petrochemically produced polyamide-6, the traditional material for climbing rope.
The biobased rope is the latest in a line of sustainable mountaineering innovations from Edelrid. In 2023, it released the first climbing rope made from used cords, and in 2024, it designed a partly recycled harness and climbing helmet.
Birdlime 1R 9.8 climbing rope is available at outdoor gear outlet REI. It is available in 70-meter formats for $220. It also features a thermos shield for “pleasant” handling, according to Gear Junkie, which first reported the story.