Discover the surprising and interesting history of eco-friendly surfboards. Learn all about sustainable surfboards inside. Read now.
The vast majority of surfboards aren't what you might call eco-friendly or sustainable.
From the chemicals used to the freighting of boards from one side of the world to the other, the conventional polyurethane board under your feet is far from green.
How to find a surfboard then that isn't an enemy of the environment?
It ain't easy, but it's getting easier.
Thanks to advancements in clean shaping, such as natural resins, timber core alternatives and an emphasis on local materials, sustainable surfboards are becoming more and more accessible.
This means that if you're an eco-conscious surfer seeking a sustainable board, you've entered the chat at just the right time.
This two-part article will focus on giving you an overview of eco-friendly surfboards.
From how we define them to their history and popular sustainable materials, both this post and its follow-up are the go-to resource for anyone wanting to dip their toes into eco-friendly surfboard waters.
Enjoy!
According to the ECOBOARD Project by Sustainable Surf, a sustainable surfboard is any board or board brand that has a "Reduced carbon footprint, renewable or up-cycled materials and use low-toxicity materials or processes during manufacturing".
Just how eco-friendly a board is though is a different story, but it helps to think of them existing along a 'sustainability spectrum'.
On one end, we have EPS or epoxy surfboards that while still not super green are more eco-friendly than traditional PU or polyurethane surfboards. On the other end are handshaped boards made using 100% locally-sourced natural materials, from the durable core all the way to the fin plugs.
Pre-20th century, all surfboards were made from various types of timber, such as Acacia.
Hawaiians were the first to build what would today be considered eco-friendly surfboards which were named depending on their size, with the biggest being the Olo and the smallest the Kioe.
It should also be noted that South American cultures in present-day Peru built surf craft from reeds some 4,000 years ago that could be ridden on waves, otherwise known as caballitos de totora (little reed horses).
Wooden surfboards continued to be used up until shortly after WWII. Post-1950s, the majority of boards were made using a foam core wrapped in fibreglass cloth and cured with resin - toxic for the environment from conception to the finished product.
The exception here were boards made by Californian Gary Young and Floridian Greg Loehr - two eco-friendly surfboard pioneers who championed the use of epoxy resin in the 70s in lieu of polyurethane due to epoxy having 75% fewer VOCs than polyester resin.
Since the 90s, timber surfboards have experienced a resurgence, with lightweight bamboo, balsa and now paulownia timber being the cores of choice.
More recently, foam blanks are being made using recycled material such as fishing nets and plastic bottles while the use of natural resins is becoming more common amongst shapers.
This remarkable progress in technology, coupled with a rising consumer fascination with manufacturing processes and materials, has led to a collective eco-friendly crusade within the industry.
It's clear that there are now many conscious surfers looking for a lighter, environmentally conscious and sustainable alternatives to modern polyurethane surfboards.
Traditional PU surfboards are made from a foam blank that is usually petroleum-based and wrapped in fibreglass cloth which has been treated with polyester resin.
The manufacturing of such boards involves the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are toxic to both the environment and human health.
This means that for every board produced, the board's carbon footprint is increased significantly, not to mention the fact that PU surfboards are not biodegradable and they contribute to plastic waste polluting our oceans.
The more people who buy PU boards, the greater the toll on Mother Nature - making it increasingly important that eco-friendly boards are made available for those wanting a green alternative.
The most harmful aspect of a conventional surfboard shaping process is the materials used. This is also where we can affect the most positive change.
Surfboards are now being made from wood such as paulownia and cork as well as post-consumer plastic waste and even hemp. Here are a few of the most popular eco-friendly surfboard materials and how they're used.
Balsa wood is like the OG of wooden surfboard materials, but now paulownia timber is also getting in on the action.
This is due to paulownia’s superior build and performance qualities, such as increased strength, buoyancy and flex without the added weight. Perhaps just as importantly, paulownia timber can also be grown and manufactured or refined in Europe. Wooden surfboard shapers can use paulownia in conjunction with a hollow-core design or simply overlay a thin veneer of wood complete with perimeter stringer systems over foam cores.
Shapers like Stefan at Kun_tiqi in Spain work their magic using the hollow-core method to create responsive, fibreglass-free equipment that can be used for surfing in a variety of conditions.
Epoxy resin surfboards are much stronger and less toxic than polyester resin with 75% fewer VOCs within the resin itself. It also releases two-thirds fewer VOCs into the atmosphere compared to polyester resin.
Some companies are actively developing fully recyclable surfboards with high performance. This involves grinding down expanded polystyrene (EPS) and combining it with new foams or a reusable resin, which means that after several years of use, the board can be restored to its original state for reuse.
In terms of performance, epoxy boards are lighter and stronger than PU boards with the ability to maintain their original flex throughout their lifespan. This means that they last longer and can still be ridden to their full potential after many seasons.
Cork is another alternative surfboard manufacturing product that is gaining traction in the eco-conscious surf market.
Coming from the cork oak (no need to guess!), cork boards are super light, flexible and buoyant. The best part though? Cork trees and related products are totally sustainable!
Cork trees aren't cut down because the bark keeps growing, allowing for multiple harvests. This fact alone is one of the reasons why it's considered such an eco-friendly material.
Moreover, these trees have an impressive lifespan of 1,500 to 2,000 years and generate a substantial amount of cork throughout their lifetime with zero negative environmental impacts.
There are a few emerging alternatives to traditional fibreglass cloth used in surfboard construction. One particularly promising option is woven hemp cloth
Hemp is not only 100% biodegradable but also non-toxic, making it an eco-friendly choice. It offers similar properties and flex to fibreglass, ensuring optimal performance on the waves. It's also worth noting that the slight yellowish tint of hemp cloth may raise aesthetic concerns for some surfers.
Additionally, while the long-term durability of a hemp-glassed board in heavy, board-breaking surf is still under scrutiny, ongoing research and testing are being conducted to assess its performance and reliability in challenging conditions.
Another exciting eco-friendly surfboard option is a board made from post-consumer plastic waste.
The process starts with the collection of plastic PET bottles or fishing nets, which are then washed and chopped into flakes before being melted down to create a solid block of material. This block can then be used to create a recycled foam core, but the fun doesn't stop there.
For foamies or foam boards made from plastic, the slick underside, leash plug, fin key and fins can also be made from recycled post-consumer plastic. This means that the entire board is 100% recyclable and can be brought back into the store for a discount, to be used again in the future.
As you can see, we're never short on things to say when it comes to the sustainable surfboard movement.
For this reason, we're running a follow-up article in the coming months. In it, we'll discuss the benefits of using sustainable surfboard materials as well as a few tips on buying your first eco-board. All so you (like us) can always have something to say when the topic of sustainable boards comes up!
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