Impact Leaders: How Dryrobe® Built Sustainability Into Product, Culture and Community

In conversation with Dylan Tweedale and Tasmin Chilcott.

Why we spoke to Dryrobe®

At ZeroBees, the Impact Leaders series exists to surface how purpose-driven businesses actually work in practice, not as case studies polished after the fact, but as living systems shaped by values, constraints, trade-offs and people.

Dryrobe® is one of those rare brands where sustainability isn’t a department or a campaign - it’s baked into product design, business decisions and community relationships. Speaking to Dylan Tweedale and Tasmin Chilcott offered a grounded view of what that looks like from the inside.

Meet the Impact Leaders

Dylan Tweedale

Community Impact Coordinator at Dryrobe®

Dylan joined Dryrobe® straight from university, where he studied Environmental Management. He leads the brand’s social impact work, including community partnerships, volunteering, accessibility initiatives and the Warmth Project. Follow Dylan on LinkedIn here.

Tasmin Chilcott

Sustainability Manager at Dryrobe®

Tasmin leads Dryrobe®’s environmental and impact strategy. Spanning materials, product life cycle, carbon reduction, nature restoration and B Corp certification. Her route into sustainability came through events, volunteering, expeditions and hands-on industry experience across carbon accounting and the water-sports sector. Follow Tasmin on LinkedIn here.

From environmental values to real roles inside a growing brand

Toby Radcliffe: Could you tell us a bit about your own journeys - and what brought you into sustainability and to Dryrobe®?

Dylan: “This is my first professional job. I studied Environmental Management at UWE Bristol, and even before that I always knew I wanted to be around the ocean and surf culture.

In my final year at uni I had the freedom to explore what I actually cared about - my dissertation was on new wetsuit materials. I wanted to work for a brand in the surf industry that was genuinely trying to help people and the planet.

When this role came up, it felt like the right thing at the right time. I moved up to North Devon and threw everything into it. It honestly feels like living the dream.”

Tasmin: “My route was a bit more unconventional. I studied events management and worked in marketing and large events, but I was always uncomfortable with the waste, travel and excess.

I started going to talks in London about environmental protection, then volunteered on an expedition in Tonga researching microplastics. From there I worked with watersports brands using recycled and bio-based materials.

That’s where it really clicked - you can make high-performance products and reduce impact at the same time.”

The origin story: solving a real problem well

Toby: What’s the story behind Dryrobe®? How did it start and how did it grow?

Tasmin: “It started in the South West of the UK. Our founder was surfing through winter and changing in freezing car parks. His mum made him the first ever change robe - literally sewing it for him.

At first he was skeptical to wear it, but then his mates all wanted one. That was the moment.

It grew from a garden shed, then locally, and in 2016 Dryrobe® was used by Olympic and Paralympic athletes. During COVID, when people were encouraged outdoors, the brand grew again because it removed a barrier - bad weather.”

Why B Corp felt like a framework, not a badge

Toby: Dryrobe® became a B Corp in 2022 and has recently recertified. What drove that decision, and how does it show up day-to-day?

Tasmin: “It felt very natural. The product itself is about longevity and accessibility - helping people be outdoors.

Our founder wanted the whole company to be built in a way that benefits people and planet. B Corp gave us a framework while we were growing.

Now it shows up everywhere - in policies, procedures, employee benefits, how we assess suppliers, how we make decisions.”

Dylan: “From a social impact perspective, B Corp gives charities and partners trust that we’re in it for the right reasons.

Staff get two volunteer days a year, and people genuinely love using them. It’s not abstract - it’s clearing scrub, adaptive surfing, helping locally. It holds us accountable.”

Where sustainability frameworks fall short

Toby: Were there any challenges or surprises in the B Corp process?

Tasmin: “One challenge was how carbon offsets were recognised compared to grassroots nature restoration.

We focus on reduction first and then support local, early-stage projects - feasibility studies, habitat recovery - things that might not yet have a verified methodology.

That work matters to us, but it isn’t always recognised in formal frameworks.”

Designing products to last - not to refresh

Toby: What are you most proud of in Dryrobe®’s sustainability journey?

Tasmin: “Sticking to our founding value of building products to last. We don’t do seasonal ranges. We improve the same core products year after year based on feedback and testing.

We trust our products enough to offer long performance guarantees.

We’re also proud of the materials we use: certified recycled fabrics, GOTS-certified towelling, algae-based components - and our take-back and resale schemes.”

Dylan: “When products come back that aren’t suitable for resale, we can still get them to charities instead of landfill. That’s been really meaningful over the last six months.”

Community impact rooted in place and relationships

Toby: Dryrobe® supports a wide range of social and environmental causes. How do you decide where to focus?

Dylan: “It started with people reaching out who needed Dryrobes®. Over time it became about working with organisations that share our love of the ocean and accessibility.

Relationships really matter to us. We want to be hands-on, not just donate and walk away.”

Tasmin: “We focus a lot on the UK coastline because that’s where we are.

On the environmental side, we support things like kelp restoration projects, working with scientists and local fishers, and feasibility studies that can later be scaled.”

The moments that make the work real

Toby: Which initiatives feel like they’re making the biggest difference?

Dylan: “For me, it’s adaptive surfing through the Wave Project. It's magic to see a child trade their wheelchair for a surfboard, seeing them beaming from ear to ear - that’s everything. That’s why we do this."

Tasmin: “For me it’s Ice Breakers - a men’s cold-water swimming charity supporting mental health. They created a space where men can talk, in the water, early in the morning. Watching that community grow year after year has been incredible.”

What’s next for Dryrobe®’s sustainability journey

Toby: What are the next priorities?

Tasmin: “Carbon reduction is the big focus - particularly logistics and transport. We’re working towards SBTi targets and faster, more frequent data so we can act more quickly.

There’s also exciting work happening in product materials.”

Dylan: “We want people to think of Dryrobe® not just as a product, but as a brand that genuinely shows up for communities - and to elevate the work of our partners.”

Advice for product-based businesses

Toby: What advice would you give other SMEs trying to embed sustainability without compromising quality or performance?

Tasmin: “Build with longevity in mind. Make sure there’s a real gap in the market. We don’t need more stuff - we need durability and things that serve a lasting purpose.”

Dylan: “Lead with your heart. Give back. The impact goes far beyond money.”

Staying motivated in challenging times

Toby: What keeps you optimistic?

Tasmin: “The people doing the work. Progress is happening, even if it doesn’t always make headlines.”

Dylan: “Seeing the next generation who genuinely care about protecting the ocean. When you see that, you know it’s worth pushing forward.”

This series of interviews is in support of our mission to accelerate sustainability and decarbonisation across SMEs, NGOs and value chains. By sharing experiences, lessons learned and tips and tricks to embedding sustainability, we can all learn how to improve more, faster.

ZeroBees (certified B Corp) are experts advisors for impact, sustainability and B Corp. From measuring and reducing greenhouse gas emissions to full support for B Corp assessment and re-certification, communication and impact reporting, we're here to help you navigate what's important and how to leverage your strengths. Book a call with us today.

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