The Answer To Environmental Damage From Surfboards?

By Author: Tim Greyton
Total Articles: 30
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You'd struggle to find a more natural sport than surfing. 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. It has come to the attention of many environmentalists however that all is not what it seems. What they have come to realise is that numerous harmful bi-products are released into the environment through board manufacture.

Most surfboards you find now are formed from a core of polyurethane foam. This is then surrounded by one or two layers of fibreglass before covering in a protecting polyester-based resin. The foam often contains a chemical called toluene diisocyanate, which is known to be a possible carcinogenic substance. The styrene gas that is also produced during manufacture has been criticised by health professionals due to its harmful effect on the nervous system and its ability to cause nausea, tiredness and disorientation. Further to this, production also releases volatile organic components (VOCs) and carbon into the atmosphere. Most of the elements that go into modern surfboards are also non-biodegradable.

Gordon ...
... Clark, a surfboard producer in California has even shut his factory down after all the negative attention it received recently. Clark's production company was responsible for manufacturing around 85% of all blanks but after being hounded by the State of California, he decided to shut the business down. This had led to the predicted shortage of pre-shaped surfboards in the States and so many big companies are in desperate need of alternatives.

One such alternative has been developed in Cornwall, England. Biofoam is a revolutionary new product that was created by the collaboration of a number of different surf charities. The material is around 65 percent more renewable and emits 35 percent less harmful toxins due to the fact it is 45 percent plant based. Further to this, the old polyester resins have been replaced on their new 'Ecoboard' with an 90% natural alternative.

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 also.
For super snowboards travel to EST who specialise in surfboards