The surfing industry is a $7.2 billion business and its latest efforts are to go green. Their biggest issue has always been the "toxic business of making surfboards and the tons of waste generated from broken boards, old wetsuits and other cast-offs from the nature-boy lifestyle." Looking at all the parts of surfing that are not sustainable in this environment is pretty outstanding seeing as there is not a whole lot to the sport itself. One of the biggest things they need is the waves which is constently brought to them by the environment. Green Foam Blanks, a company started by surf industry veterans Joey Stantley and Steve Cox in San Clemente, California, have decided to make new surfboards out of recycled polyurethane. This is combine with a carcinogenic chemical compound and Green Foam. By doing this they are essentially reducing the amount of new polyurethane that has to be made. It continues to say old surfboards can be recycled too.
They have also come up with other ideas to reduce their sports waste. They have begun, "experiementing with using polyurethane waste and broken boards as filler for asphalt paving as well as making surfboard accessories out of neoprene wetsuit waste." These ideas are working really well so far, they are figuring out how to make products out of waste that many surfers need. Some of the products they have made so far include sandals, surfboard leashes and traction pads, all of which have been made from recycled neoprene. In order to help sell their products they have decided to put together a "guerrilla marketing campaign to get recycled surfboards in the hands of celebrities, respected surfboard builders and pro surfers." The more widely known they are for their efforts to become more sustainable and the more people see their product really works, it will hopefully create a buzz and trend to push people towards a more sustainable surf industry. One celebrity stated, "I understand that humans have to learn to do more with less, therefore the products I use, like a surfboard for instance, I prefer to be made with our environment in mind." If it all works the same, why not choose the more sustainable product.
Lastly, they are doing a pretty good job so far, but they are also working with a niche market that hasn't changed hundreds of years. He has begun working with surf industry retailers to create a "Green Room" within their stores that will "sell sustainable products like board shorts made of recycled plastic and environmentally sensitive neoprene wetsuits." Stantley will also continue to market this Green Foam surfboards under a new brand he calls the "G" brand.
I think they have done a very good job establishing a company and a product line that emphasizes sustainability. They are using materials that have all been put straight into the landfills and instead, they are creating useful products for surfers today. Essentially, they are trying to create a closed-loop system for their industry. This way, instead of the waste from old boards and wetsuits going straight into the landfills, they will be recycled and made into newer and more environemtally friendly products. Hopefully they can help change other manufacturers and show them the benefits they are gaining from doing this.
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