Why Surfing Is Not The Eco Sport Your Might Think

Surfing is a sport that is synonymous with nature. The crashing waves, the fresh sea air and the reliance on mother nature for good surf, all suggest that this is the most wholesome of extreme sports. A large number of environmentalist have pointed out however that something sinister lies under the surface. The reality is that surfboard manufacture is responsible for a number of different hazards to both the environment and to humans.

Many of the surfboards these days are formed from a core of polyurethane foam. This is then covered by a layer or two of fibre glass and then coated in a protective polyester resin. The foam usually includes a chemical known as toluene diisocyanate, which is considered by many to be a carcinogen. Its production can also create styrene fumes, exposure to which can leas to to problems with the nervous system, on top of headaches, dizziness and confusion. Additionally, carbon dioxide and VOCs (volatile organic components) are released into the atmosphere during production. The biodegradable quality of most surfboard compounds is quite poor as well.

So much pressure has been put on surfboard manufacturers that one producer of ‘blank’ decks in California, Gordon Clark, has now closed his factory. At one time Clark's business made over 80% of all blank surfboards on the market, but his final decision to stop production came after strong words from the State of California. This has unsurprisingly left a massive shortage of surfboard blanks in the US, and left an number of big organisations searching for alternatives.

The surf capital of England - Cornwall, is indeed founder of one such alternative. Biofoam is a revolutionary new product that was created by the collaboration of a number of different surf charities. Its fifty percent plant-based compound ensures that thirty percent less toxins are produced during its creation and it is a whopping sixty percent more renewable. Additionally, they have started using a protective resin coating on their ‘Ecoboard’ that is amazingly 99% natural also.

The makers of the Ecoboards, which use Biofoam have been approached by surf companies from around the world. It is still early days but they soon hope to start applying their eco-technology to the manufacturing of snowboards as well.

By: Tim Greyton

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