Reducing Waste Through Volume Refurbishment at Whipper Climbing
Transforming hundreds of used climbing volumes into like-new condition while strengthening customer relationships
At Whipper Climbing, innovation wasn't just about new products — it was about rethinking how the climbing industry could operate more sustainably. One of our most impactful initiatives was the Volume Refurbishment Program, which transformed hundreds of used climbing volumes across multiple venues and customers into like-new condition.
The goal was simple but ambitious: reduce industry waste while strengthening customer relationships.
The challenge
Climbing volumes, after years of use, typically end up in landfill due to wear and surface degradation. For gyms, replacing them entirely was costly and wasteful. We wanted to find a way to extend their lifespan — but to do it efficiently, affordably, and at a standard that met the expectations of commercial facilities.
The approach
I led the technical oversight, R&D process, and conversion of this initiative into a repeatable service offering. The first hurdle was to make pricing intuitive and transparent. Through detailed time-and-damage studies across a wide range of volume sizes, we developed a structured pricing model based on four size categories and two damage levels.
This gave customers fast, accurate quotes — something the industry had never offered before.
On the technical side, refurbishing climbing volumes required novel surface preparation and coating solutions. We collaborated with manufacturers in Europe and the UK to refine the process, achieving a finish indistinguishable from new equipment.
The outcome
Over the life of the initiative, hundreds of volumes were refurbished, returning high-value assets to customers at a fraction of replacement cost. The program was intentionally run at minimal margins to encourage participation and promote sustainability. Beyond its operational success, it strengthened Whipper's brand as a company that genuinely cared about the future of the sport and the planet.
Key learnings
- Sustainability drives innovation. Working within constraints forces smarter, more creative solutions.
- Transparent pricing builds trust. Customers value simplicity and fairness more than aggressive margins.
- Purpose creates pride. Projects that align commercial outcomes with positive impact strengthen teams and brand reputation.
The Volume Refurbishment Program proved that small, well-designed initiatives can have a big ripple effect — reducing waste, inspiring change, and showing that doing good business and doing good for the world don't have to be separate goals.