Green Your Beach Day: Eco Surfboards

Only one word can describe the materials that go into a typical surfboard: gnarly. The polyurethane in traditional blanks creates dangerous chemicals in the manufacturing process and taps limited petroleum resources. Other common materials, including fiberglass laminate and polyester resins, come packed with less-than-green ingredients. Designers have yet to come up with a zero-impact board, but a few companies are making progress. Try one of these next time you hit the waves:

Bamboo Surfboards  works with (surprise!) bamboo in a kind of sandwich with epoxy.
Hess Surfboards integrates sustainably-harvested wood, fast-growing cork, and a recyclable foam.
Homeblown uses "biofoam," a material made from soy (grown in the U.S.) in place of oil-based polyols.

If all else fails, eco-minded surfers can offset the impact of boards, boats, and surf-related activities with carbon credits from GreenSurf.

--J.S.

Share your tips and stories about connecting with nature and going green out on the waves.