Playgrounds get a sustainable makeover with Ecore’s upcycled gym flooring

Los Angeles, CA – Showcasing its commitment to sustainability and the effectiveness of its circular business model, Ecore, in collaboration with Equinox fitness clubs and other industry leaders, recently transformed old gym flooring into safe, durable 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 just two weeks, the team removed old flooring from five Equinox locations in the Los Angeles area and transformed it into safety surfacing for 18 playgrounds in Southern California. This initiative not only supports environmental mandates but also highlights how companies can contribute to the circular economy.

Ecore is a pioneer in rubber circularity, with a long-standing commitment to sustainability. The company already reclaims used tires, transforming them into high-performance surfacing. Its hallmark initiative, the TRUcircularity program, goes a step further by fully closing the loop on end-of-life rubber. Through this program, Ecore not only reclaims rubber surfacing but also recycles it into new products, creating a continuous cycle that prevents rubber from ever reaching landfills. By addressing the rubber industry’s most significant sustainability challenge, TRUcircularity ensures that rubber stays out of landfills indefinitely.

“Initiatives like TRUcircularity are not just about recycling but about creating a sustainable loop where materials are reused and repurposed continuously,” said 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.”

Equinox has been a long-standing partner with Ecore Athletic, using its flooring solutions across multiple locations. From indoor and outdoor sports and recreational tracks and courts to fitness, functional training, health and wellness, and therapy/rehab spaces, Ecore Athletic surfaces offer durability, performance and noise absorption in countless design aesthetics.

Equinox strives to edge up the ladder on sustainable fitness every day. Participation in TRUcircularity with Ecore Athletic allowed Equinox to play a significant role in the partnership and proved that the circular model is beneficial to all parties invested. The flooring materials were collected from a few locations in New York City and five locations in Los Angeles: Westwood, Woodland Hills, Beverly Hills and Sports Club OC. In total, 11,500 square feet of material, equating to about 165,000 pounds, was collected and processed locally within 50-75 miles of each club.

Ross Gimbel, Director of Facilities at Equinox, spoke highly of the program. “We’ve proudly partnered with Ecore on its TRUcircularity program across multiple locations, including in New York, New Jersey and California. 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,” he said.

Equinox’s participation in this program also allowed it to comply with the updated LA County Construction and Demolition Recycle Reuse Ordinance that requires 70% of construction and demolition debris to be recycled.

“Participating in Ecore’s TRUcircularity program has been a significant advantage for Equinox in meeting the LA County Construction and Demolition ordinance,” added Gimbel. “With the recent updates aiming for higher recycling rates, the program enabled us to comply seamlessly with the 70% C&D waste recycling requirement. This partnership not only supports our sustainability goals but also ensures we are aligned with Los Angeles’ evolving environmental standards.”

Once the club floor tiles were collected, they were sent to Ecore’s partner facility near Corona, Calif., for conversion into new flooring. The flooring materials were repurposed into Spectra PourTM safety surfacing for playgrounds. The flooring tiles from Equinox then made their way into 18 different Southern California playgrounds, including Belvedere Park and South Broadway Pocket Park in Los Angeles County. Spectra Pour was developed by SpectraTurf, a division of Ecore that specializes in recreational safety surfaces.

Lisa Anderson, Vice President of Ecore’s Construction Unit at SpectraTurf, emphasized the importance of this initiative. “The transition to a circular economy is crucial for sustainability. Projects like this are not only beneficial for the environment but also show how industries can work together to create real impact. By repurposing gym flooring into playground surfacing, we’re showing the possibilities of a sustainable future,” she said.

Anderson also noted that the short turnaround time for the project – from tile removal to playground installation – was a major achievement. “In just two weeks, we managed to remove, process and install the recycled materials. It’s exciting to think about expanding this model beyond California.”

SpectraTurf also helped streamline the process by assisting with the necessary paperwork to show compliance with recycling requirements. This level of support ensures that all stakeholders meet their sustainability goals while contributing to a larger, circular business model.

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.

“Partnering with SpectraTurf on the South Broadway Pocket Park project was a great opportunity to showcase the power of recycled materials,” said Michael Bennett, President of Landscape Structures. “The surfacing we installed was part of the TRUcircularity program, meaning it’s not only recycled but also recyclable at the end of its life. This is an environmentally responsible approach that benefits both the community and the planet.”

“We were pleased to learn about SpectraTurf’s use of recycled flooring as part of the TRUcircularity program,” said Dore Burry, Departmental Facilities Planner for the Los Angeles Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR). “Repurposing old unitary rubber surfacing into a base layer for new installations is a practical and environmentally responsible solution. At DPR, we fully support efforts that divert waste from landfills and promote the use of recycled, sustainable materials like SpectraTurf’s flooring.”

A Model for Future Sustainability Initiatives

The success of the TRUcircularity project in Los Angeles has far-reaching implications. Not only did the project satisfy LA County’s environmental mandates, but it also demonstrated how businesses can work together to address global sustainability challenges. As the demand for circular solutions grows, Ecore aims to expand these projects to regions across the country.

As the conversation around end-of-life materials continues to evolve, programs like TRUcircularity are leading the way in demonstrating how to turn waste into opportunity. For companies looking to reduce their environmental impact, Ecore’s full-circle vision offers a pathway to sustainability, health and wellness, and it’s one that is already making a global difference.

This project serves as a testament to the effectiveness of circularity and as a blueprint for future collaborations that drive environmental responsibility and innovation. More companies and communities stand to benefit from sustainable solutions that go beyond performance, creating a better world for future generations.

“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,” added Srikanth.