The surfboard industry relies heavily on petroleum based products and materials – acetones, resins, fiberglass and polyfoams, plastic and vinyls.
A very creative and unique approach to recycling and refurbishing / repairing old surfboards once ready for the dump has been developed by Ecosurfgreen in Hawaii.
Their unique and creative process involves repairs utilizing rice for fillers and glue to fill “dings”, old tree bark instead of fiberglass and used, ground up charcoal for paint pigment.
Even the nose guards and tail guards have been replace with coconut husks as “bumpers”.
The surfboards look so cool and “primitive” that the Oahu local Bishop Museum is using them as part of their upcoming “History of Surf” exhibit from June 19th to Aug 19, 2010.
Their new line of “totally earth friendly” surfboards follow their company guidelines:
1) no toxic petroleum based glues or adhesives
2) no fiberglass
3) no resins
4) no plastics or deck grips
5) no nose or tail guards
Coming in the future is retro-fitting the surfboards to work with their line of surf simulators that are hooked up to computers and help train people with learning to surf and develop core balance.
Aloha and Mahalo!
TEAM ECOSURFGREEN Hawaii
