Sourcing the Sustainable Surfboard

Abstract

The use of plastic materials to manufacture and maintain surfboards to maximize performance is an industry standard. To successfully produce and sell more sustainably-sourced surfboards, a cultural shift is required to steer away from the generally accepted standard practice. Sustainable Surf standards have been established which can minimize the impact of the surf industry on the environment. The sustainable production methods of 42 companies are analyzed using publicly available data. GIS mapping is used to analyze production data with location data, to determine distance between source of materials and the factories. Furthermore, more sustainable materials (resins and cores) used by sustainable surfboard companies are quantified. All of this information is joined to show overall impacts of the manufacturing processes. In order to make progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals, all aspects of production must be examined and improved. This study contributes a small piece to the “industry innovation and infrastructure” sustainable development goal. By providing this type of data, consumers will be able to make informed decisions when they purchase a surfboard.