RE ZRO® – Biodegradable Protection Pads

Built to perform. Designed for protection.

Shaping the future of protective gear

Chasing lines, pushing boundaries, and flowing through nature drives us. As our ambitions grow, we continue to develop protective gear that combines performance, comfort and durability.

That mindset led us to partner with RE ZRO®. Designed for riders who demand a high level of impact protection, the material combines flexibility for freedom of movement with protective performance.

Launched with our award-winning ARCON LT knee pads, RE ZRO® is now used across selected protection products for biking and watersports. From singletracks to shorelines, it represents the next generation of protection technology in the ION range.

ION Bike _ION x Re Zro Knee Pad ARCN L2_1

Reliable Protection

RE ZRO’s proprietary technology safeguards riders by allowing its molecular bonds to fracture upon impact. This process dissipates energy as heat and sound — a phenomenon known as shear-thinning. Immediately after impact, the supermolecules recombine, effectively resetting the material back to its original RE ZRO® state.

RE ZRO® absorbs impact through shear-thinning — its molecules break apart to disperse energy, then instantly reset to their original state, ready for the next hit.

RE ZRO® Material Innovation

The RE ZRO® material has been developed with specific end-of-life material characteristics. The material is designed to maintain its protective properties during normal use. Under specific landfill conditions, as described in the relevant test standards and documentation, biological degradation processes may occur.

RE ZRO® is designed to provide reliable protection during use while incorporating material characteristics intended for specific end-of-life conditions.

»Our expectations for impact protection are high, and safety remains a key consideration in product development. Balancing protective performance with our material and product development goals was an important challenge. With RE ZRO®, we found a partner that meets our requirements for protection, comfort and performance, while supporting our approach to material innovation.«
— Robert Scheibenzuber, Senior Manager Product & Design

A conversation with RE ZRO®

Reimagining impact protection

RE ZRO® Material Technology

RE ZRO® develops materials for impact protection applications. Its materials incorporate TOTO-TOA® technology and are designed to undergo biological degradation under specific microbe-rich, low-oxygen landfill conditions.*

Alongside material development, RE ZRO® is exploring approaches related to local sourcing, product durability and end-of-life management. One long-term development goal is to establish systems through which used products can be returned and their materials considered for new applications. These systems are currently under development and are not yet generally available.

RE ZRO® focuses on the end-of-life challenges associated with polyurethane-based protective materials. Its material technology is designed to combine impact protection with defined characteristics under specific end-of-life conditions.*

ION uses RE ZRO® materials in selected protective products. The relevant protection performance is tested according to the standards applicable to each product.

Biological degradation occurs only under defined microbe-rich, low-oxygen landfill conditions. The claim does not refer to degradation during normal use, home composting, industrial composting or degradation in the natural environment. Testing standard, test results, duration, degree of degradation and applicable material components must be specified in the corresponding product documentation.

So, what inspired RE ZRO® to take on such a big challenge?

Passion — and a deep connection to the sports they serve.

“Our team is made up of riders through and through: motorcycle racers, snowboarders, kiteboarders and adventure athletes. We knew there were opportunities to improve the user experience and rethink material development in protective gear. So we built something we could believe in. And we’re having a blast doing it. That’s the best part.”

»From day one, this project has been about the details. Every contour, every material choice—nothing was left to chance. Collaborating with Nico and top-level athletes has been crucial in shaping a product that not only performs at the highest level but truly resonates with the people who live and breathe this sport. Working with the ION team has been nothing short of exceptional—they understand the culture, the community, and the passion behind it all. Together, we've built more than just a product—we've captured the spirit of what this scene is really about.«
— Jake Tindall, Head of Marketing RE ZRO®

RE ZRO® materials have been independently tested according to ASTM D5511-18 and ISO 15985:2014. Results relate to specific anaerobic test conditions and should not be interpreted as evidence of biodegradation in all environments.

For full terms see: www.re-zro.com/terms