Can surfboards become more sustainable?

Surfing the good wave/ Can surfboards become more sustainable?

Surfboards that use recyclamine, an eco-friendly epoxy resin, are helping to save the oceans from marine pollution

Surfers are people who enjoy their direct contact with nature. It is therefore in their best interests to protect the environment in which they spend much of their time – the oceans. Paradoxically, the equipment they use is heavily dependent on the petrochemical industry. Apart from the hazardous waste that is released during manufacture, it is also impossible to recycle these boards at their end-of-life. Often surfboards are considered an ecologically hostile product, born out of unsustainable practices and leaching pollutants into the sea or landfills when discarded. 
 

Environmental footprint

The lifecycle of a standard surfboard is about five years.  With proper maintenance, a surfboard can be made to last a little longer. Eventually, however, the board will deteriorate from sun, sand and water damage and must be discarded. Unfortunately, these boards are not biodegradable or recyclable. 

Traditionally made from materials such as polyurethane foam or fibreglass, surf boards use thermoset composites, a leading engineering material that is used in a wide variety of applications including sports equipment.  Most standard surfboards weighing approximately 6lb produces an estimated 10lb of waste material, nearly double the weight of the board. The waste accumulated during the manufacturing and end-of-life processes adds to the ecological and environmental crises around the world. 
 

A rising tide of waste

While these effects are perhaps invisible to a large segment of the population, what is becoming increasingly visible is the plastic waste in the world’s oceans. Recycled surfboards – made from a supposedly eco-friendly manner to reduce waste – leave behind plastic scraps and residue which leach toxic chemicals into the air and water. Surfboards made from microbeads kill marine life, bleach coral reefs and adds to polluted oceans and beaches. 

Even other eco-friendly, sustainable products such as boards made from recycled plastic, bamboo and other biodegradable material come with their own set of problems such as how to safely discard them at end-of-life. 
 

The greener wave

Aditya Birla Group’s patented Recyclamine technology is a measure of their commitment to protecting the planet. Recyclamine has successfully enabled the world’s first-ever truly recyclable skis, surfboards and kayaks.  

Manufactured by Aditya Birla Advanced Materials, Recyclamine is a revolutionary technology that breathes new life into non-recyclable thermoset composites, by integrating unique epoxy resins and curing agents with meticulously engineered cleavage points at cross-linking sites. 

This process allows for the recovery of reinforcing components like carbon fibre, glass fibre, and plastic. Thermoset composites are converted into thermoplastics through a targeted recycling process. This enables the continuous retrieval, reuse and repurposing of all the components of the composite. The recycling of manufacturing waste and end-of-life composite waste not only reduces the carbon footprint but also paves the way for a healthier and more sustainable future. 

Recylamine’s cutting-edge resin has enabled the world’s first-ever completely recyclable surfboards, an innovation that was recognised with the JEC Innovation Award in 2020. 

Aditya Birla Group is collaborating with leading water sports brands to develop completely recyclable composite products with a built-in end-of-life solution. This is in keeping with the Group’s mantra –  A Force for Good – and its efforts to script a sustainable future through conscientious choices. 
 

Environmental impact of eco-friendly epoxy resin based surfboard vs standard poly surfboard 

• 30% lower carbon footprint
• 26% less waste material in manufacturing