Ecore converts end-of-life gym flooring into playground surfacing - Recycling Today

Posted by Tess Kazdin, Digital Editor

Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based Ecore has partnered with Equinox Group, New York, to convert gym flooring into playground surfacing in Los Angeles. The project is part of Ecore’s TRUcircularity program, which focuses on reclaiming, recycling and repurposing rubber surfacing, including flooring tracks and playgrounds, to reduce environmental impact.

Over the course of two weeks, the companies removed end-of-life flooring from Equinox locations in New York and Los Angeles and converted it into safety surfacing at 18 playgrounds in Southern California. In total, 27,600 square feet of material, equating to approximately 100,000 pounds, was collected around Los Angeles and processed locally within 50-75 miles of each club. Two of the 18 playgrounds now containing repurposed Equinox flooring tiles are in Belvedere Park and South Broadway Pocket Park in Los Angeles County.

“Initiatives like TRUcircularity are not just about recycling but about creating a sustainable loop where materials are reused and repurposed continuously,” says Shweta Srikanth, chief circularity officer at Ecore. “Our recent work with Equinox clubs in Los Angeles County is a prime example of how businesses can collaborate to solve environmental challenges while driving value and sustainability. A circular economy can’t be achieved alone—it requires partnerships with committed entities. In this case, Equinox, LA County and Ecore were equally invested in driving the success.”

RELATED: Ecore names circularity officer

Ecore says Equinox has been a long-standing Ecore Athletic partner, using its flooring solutions across multiple locations.

“We’ve proudly partnered with Ecore on its TRUcircularity program across multiple locations, including in New York, New Jersey and California,” says Ross Gimbel, director of facilities at Equinox. “Ecore’s unwavering commitment to sustainability and circularity truly sets it apart, and it has been an absolute pleasure collaborating with its dedicated team. The results of our joint efforts have been remarkable, proving that the circularity model is not only achievable but can make a significant impact, even with the smallest of initiatives.”

Equinox’s participation in this program also allowed it to comply with the updated Los Angeles County Construction and Demolition Recycle Reuse Ordinance, which requires 70 percent of construction and demolition debris to be recycled.

Once the club floor tiles were collected, Ecore says they were sent to its partner facility near Corona, California, for conversion into new flooring. The flooring materials were then repurposed into SpectraPour safety surfacing for playgrounds. SpectraPour was developed by SpectraTurf, a division of Ecore that specializes in recreational safety surfaces.

Ecore says SpectraTurf also helped streamline the process by assisting with the necessary paperwork to show compliance with recycling requirements.

Landscape Structures Inc., a company that supplies playground equipment and surfacing to the city of Los Angeles’ Department of Parks and Recreation, played a crucial role in bringing the playgrounds to life as well, Ecore says.

“Partnering with SpectraTurf on the South Broadway Pocket Park project was a great opportunity to showcase the power of recycled materials,” Landscape Structures President Michael Bennet says.

Ecore stresses the importance of collaboration between companies and communities, which it says stand to benefit from sustainable solutions.

“Achieving circularity requires partnership and commitment, but when everyone shares a united vision for a cleaner, greener planet, the process becomes seamless and adds immense value,” says Srikanth.