We are surfers. We love the ocean.
We try to do our bit for the environment here at Azul Guesthouse and are continually taking steps and exploring ways to be a more green surf camp – we do beach cleans and avoid single use plastics as much as possible.
In an era of increasing eco-consciousness, we show you some of the eco-friendly surf brands we like.
Spooked Kooks
Hailing from Bondi, the foamie mecca of Australia, is our favourite foamie eco surfboard brand – Spooked Kooks. The fun foamie trend has been ON for a while and is set to continue – they are not just for beginners or surf schools anymore! We have a great selection of foamie surfboards at our surf shop.
Spooked Kooks make high quality foam surfboards and include a large proportion of post consumer recycled plastic. This includes the entire slick, leash plug, fin boxes, fins and fin key.
The three Australian founder surfer friends are on an eco friendly surf mission – spreading their love for the ocean and highlighting the importance of recycling plastic in order to protect our surf playground. They are cleaning tons of rubbish off beaches and recycling it in their boards. Buying one of their boards actually contributes to cleaning the planet!
‘Shred the waves, not the planet’.
spooked kooks
Their eco credentials does not mean they lack on style either. The Spooked Kooks surfboard models are rad retro styling of classic surfboards, with great shapes and good rocker.
These sweet surfboards are available in the following styles:
- Twin Fin 4.11 ft, Bat Rat
- Egg 5.6 ft, Tombstone
- Retro Fish 5.8 ft Frankenfish – tried, tested and super fun!
- Retro Thruster 6.0 ft, Dagger
- Mini-Mals 7.0 ft, Dead Hippie
All boards are offered in tasty pastel tones with graphic logos. We love their branding! Real fun.
Outerknown
Eco-friendly surf lifestyle brand
Founded by perhaps the best professional surfer the planet will ever see – Kelly Slater and talented surf brand designer – John Moore, Outerknown is a sustainable lifestyle brand made ‘For People and Planet’. They make really lovely eco-friendly clothing.
“Every decision is made with the highest regard for the hands that craft our clothes and the world we call home.”
Kelly slater
Outerknown say they wanted to smash the formula and lift the lid on the traditional supply chain, to prove you can produce great-looking clothing in a sustainable way. Firmly committed to sustainability, Outerknown create products by making every decision with the highest regard for the environment and the people they work with.
“We’re surfers who grew up with surf brands, but we grew out of logos.”
Kelly
The eco-friendly surf brand is stripped back and subtle and they channel a vibe more focused on fabrics, overt graphics and colours rather than loud branding. It mixes surf roots, luxury prices and a principle of sustainability.
Outerknown recently set a goal to be 100% circular by 2030, keeping their products out of landfill and in circulation forever! Amazing.
Olas
Recycled plastic surf and yoga leggings
Time to focus on a small independent brand trying to do big things for plastic pollution. Not quite as global as Outerknown, Olas was solo created by an eco-friendly English designer on a mission to highlight the importance of recycling plastic.
“My eco-friendly journey began in my teenage years – I have always been passionate about sustainability…even before it was cool!”
Olas Founder – Claire
Eco-friendly passion
After years spent in factories creating clothing and footwear for surf brands, Olas founder Claire had experienced first hand just how damaging the textile industry is. She decided to combine her enthusiasm for slow-made clothing with her love for the ocean and teaching yoga. As a result, she set out to create Olas, a surf and yoga brand that is made from recycled plastic, handmade in England, resists deterioration and offers longevity.
“I set out to add momentum to the consumer mindset of reducing, reusing and recycling plastic in the hope that it will stop entering our landfills and oceans.”
Claire
Great news – we stock Olas leggings in our surf shop! Stoked to collaborate with this eco-freindly surf brand.
Earth Technologies
Talk about an eco-friendly surfboard revolution. Earth Technologies are at the forefront of greener and more sustainable surfboard production.
Founder Ryan Harris uses the best sustainable methods to make each and every board: Super Sap bio epoxies, Entropy Resins, sustainably harvested veneers, organic plant based cloths, volcanic rock based composite, recycled foam blanks, recyclable blanks and other eco-friendly surfboard shaping methods help Earth Technologies reduce their carbon footprint.
Eco-friendly surf collective
Their eco-friendly factors do not compromise the performance of the board either! Earth Technologies have previously teamed up with major industry brands such as Pyzel, Maurice Cole, Lost and Channel Islands to glass boards in an eco-friendly way and expand the visibility of green glassing, also working with Sustainable Surf to promote ecoboards and greener construction methods.
In 2018 Earth Technologies became the World’s first zero-waste surfboard factory.
“All shop trash/waste gets sorted/categorised then processed by two machines: an industrial shredder and particle reducer. Every bit of production waste from gloves, stir sticks, excess resin on floors, to brushes and squeegees will go through this process. Through the Vacuum Infusion Process we will turn our densified waste into usable products ranging from key chains, and coasters to fins and handplanes.”
Ryan
Ryan had found many ways to reduce, reuse and recycle at his factory – including a board recycling programme. However there were still some by-products of surfboard production including small scraps of foam, foam dust and sawdust that still ended up in landfill so Ryan put his thinking cap on.
Mealworms help in the zero waste surfboard process
Ryan’s genius solution was found with The Living Earth Systems, where mealworms are used to eat the foam and wood, turning it into organic waste (yes, you read that right!). So the surfboards are not only ‘green’ but zero-waste too. Amazing stuff.
Earth Technologies continues to lead the world in eco-friendly surfboard production. The surf brand show that with passion and determination we can protect, rather than pollute, our ocean playground.
Kun_tiqi
Eco-friendly surfboard leashes
Let’s think about the smaller things – surfboard leashes. Sometimes it’s easy to forget seeking eco-friendly options for these kind of things, but the choice is out there!
We like Kun_tiqi ‘Eco Leashes’. Their focus is on high quality materials and extreme testings. The velcro strap and rail saver are made of recycled nylon and neoprene. The urethan cord is made of recycled material too and improves the carbon footprint of every surfer.
In addition to using recycled materials, Kun_tiqi also offer replacement parts. By using a surfboard fin key, the broken part can be replaced by the new one. The aim with this is to to avoid broken leashes ending up in the trash. This helps to limit the landfill and preserves our natural resources.
Kun_tiqi developed the ‘Eco Leash’ in partnership with Surfrider Foundation Europe.
Surf Organic
Eco-friendly surf wax
Traditional surfboard wax smells amazing yes, it is however made of petrol-chemicals that pollute the air and ocean during extraction and processing. These chems are not biodegradable and are toxic if ingested, harming marine life.
There hasn’t been many alternative options around, but nowadays there are more eco-friendly options out there. We love Surf Organic wax. Created by eco-conscious surfers, they use absolutely no artificial scents, only 100% organic coconut essential oils. The soy base is naturally softer and stickier, so they do not have to add artificial softeners and adhesives. They offer a great eco friendly wax option without compromising on performance. Surf Organic is the only eco wax that works just as well, if not better, than other paraffin waxes in the market.
The eco-friendly surf wax brand also package all of their wax in 100% recycled boxes and are members of 1% For the Planet.
Surf Organic wax is available in 4 temperature ranges:
- Tropical/Base: Above 25°C (77°F +)
- Warm: 20-25°C (68-77°F)
- Cool: 15-20°C (59-68°F)
- Cold: Below 15°C (59°F -)
Stoked we could show you some eco-friendly surf brands we are loving right now. We hope it helps you to make some eco-conscious purchases going forward. We can all try to do our part in protecting the oceans and the planet!
Thanks. See you soon!
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