"I'm a Surfer but I hate the Ocean". Why surfing contradicts itself?

Luckily, I love the Ocean, I built a company literally removing plastic directly from the Ocean (Seven Clean Seas). Weirdly however, being a surfer and loving the ocean is a contradictory statement. I've been surfing for over 60% of my life now and having built a company in the waste management sector, I've been at the forefront of seeing how my hobby is actually massively detrimental to the environment.

As an industry that's about to hit a value of almost US$5 billion by 2027 the market as a whole will need to lay off the waste if it's going to hold any sense of authenticity in the future.

Surfing, a sport often seen as "harmonious" with nature, remains heavily reliant on petroleum-based products that carry hidden environmental costs. From surfboards crafted with polyurethane foam to grip wax, these materials significantly pollute and contribute to climate change. Whilst some brands out there are investing in innovation, the industry as a whole has yet to align the "ocean's exhilarating experience" with an "unwavering" commitment to preservation.

The Petrochemical Surfboard

Environmental Impact of Production

Surfboards composed of polyurethane foam, a petroleum derivative, introduce substantial environmental concerns. Their manufacturing process emits VOCs and greenhouse gases, exacerbating air pollution while relying heavily on non-renewable and non-recyclable resources. Literally, every stage of producing polyurethane foam surfboards contributes to waste. This includes industrial waste from manufacturing offcuts, with disposal posing significant challenges due to their non-biodegradable nature. To put it into perspective, the most elite of surfers (think sponsored surfers, best in the world etc etc) will get through ~50 surfboards a year.

Once discarded, these surfboards often end up in landfills, decomposing over extended periods and leaching harmful chemicals into soil and water, disrupting ecosystems, etc etc I probably don't need to go into details, if you've made it this far in the article you're probably interested and clued up about these effects. But while sustainable products offer promising solutions, the perfect alternative for surfers remains elusive, often hindered by high costs and limited performance.

Waxing Up with Petroleum

I've no idea what Surf Wax is...

Initially, surf wax in the early 20th century utilised natural substances like beeswax. However, with surfing's growth, petroleum-based paraffin waxes, another oil derivitive, gained popularity for their affordability and performance despite their environmental drawbacks.

Sourced from non-renewable resources, petroleum waxes contribute to pollution and ecosystem harm (Al-Rubaye et al. 2023). Although there is increasing awareness around this issue, finding cost-effective and functional sustainable alternatives remains a considerable challenge.

Rise of Eco-Friendly Alternatives

While eco-friendly surf wax options, such as those made from beeswax and coconut oil, are being introduced to reduce petrochemical reliance, these alternatives often fall short in performance and affordability.

Innovative companies are at the forefront of this transition, yet for many surfers, current sustainable waxes do not fully meet expectations or budgets. As a business, aligning your brand with eco-conscious values is essential, but addressing these practical barriers to a good product is crucial in genuinely supporting ocean health.

I don't have the answers and apparently neither does the surf industry. There'a a lot of factors to consider and there are some potentially great solutions out there, it depends whether they can hit the happy price point and not compromise on performance.

Stab eat your heart out.