As much as we’d like to think otherwise, surfing is not an environmentally friendly sport. The main culprits are carbon emissions from surf travel and the energy-intensive, petroleum-based boards and gear we ride.
Fortunately, with a bit of environmental mindfulness, there’s a lot you can do to make your surfing more sustainable. Here are 11 ways you can be a more sustainable surfer.
1. Choose sustainable wetsuits, booties, gloves, and/or hoodies
There is a lot of greenwashing in the world of eco-friendly wetsuits, but this guide from The Surf Atlas does a pretty good job of helping you sift through the B.S.
The key things to look for to find sustainable wetsuits, booties, gloves and hoodies are:
- Materials: natural rubber is a better alternative to petroleum-based neoprene. Limestone, despite marketing claims to the contrary, is not.
- Manufacturing: sustainable manufacturers minimize material and water waste and maximize usable neoprene or natural rubber production.
- Lining: is a layer of knitted fabric that gets laminated onto the panels of your wetsuit. Sustainable wetsuits will use PET-linings, which are made from recycled plastic bottles.
Patagonia’s line of Yulex products are among your best options for sustainable wetsuits. Though they are a bit pricier.
*Watch out for limestone-based neoprene wetsuits. While limestone isn’t petroleum, the extraction process is fraught with environmental issues.
2. Choose an ECOBOARD surfboard and/or buy used
Surfboards, even the eco-friendly ones, are made with nasty chemicals. But if you’re buying a new surfboard, you can ease your environmental impact with an ECOBOARD.
The ECOBOARD Project by Sustainable Surf is a project that’s designed to “Educate and engage individuals about the environmental impacts of their lifestyle through the lens of their surfboard.” ECOBOARDS are certified on two levels — Level One and Gold Level, with Gold Level being the most sustainable.
You can find ECOBOARDS from major brands like Firewire and Channel Islands. Or you can head over to the ECOBOARD Project website and find ECOBOARD makers near you.
3. Think through your quiver
The average surfer doesn’t need more than three boards. Though I know many average surfers with many more than 10 boards—who I silently judge.
So try not to be that guy with 10 new boards. If you’ve got the space and they’re used, at least they’re not going to a landfill. But if you’re buying new, think carefully about your board choice so you can keep your quiver nice and slim. If you need some help, check out this guide to building a 3-board quiver from Almond Surfboards.
4. Recycle and/or reuse your old wetsuits
If you surf a lot, you might need to buy a new wetsuit each year. But what about your old wetsuits? To prevent those steamers from ending up in the landfill, find a wetsuit recycling location near you.
Or, if your old winter wetsuit isn’t warm enough for the cold months, try repurposing it for the summer months. Here’s a good YouTube video of how you can turn a wintertime wetsuit into a summer suit.
5. Take care of your wetsuit
Even if you don’t want to, or can’t, spring for a more sustainable wetsuit, you can extend its life. Here’s how to make sure your wetsuit lasts as long as possible:
- Rinse your suit inside and out with fresh water after every surf.
- Grab a wetsuit shampoo and do a deep clean whenever your suit starts to stink.
- Hang your wetsuit to dry folded at the waist and out of direct sunlight.
- Use a sustainably made changing mat to minimize damage to your wetsuit when you’re changing.
- Don’t use petroleum jelly to prevent chafing (it degrades your wetsuit). Use Body Glide or another non-petroleum based anti-chafe cream.
6. Avoid walking long distances in your booties
After a session at Ocean Beach in San Francisco, my surf buddy had to get to a meeting. The trouble was, we’d drifted about 6 blocks down from where we paddled out. So he had to run.
I decided to jog with him, but before we started, he slipped off his booties and explained why.
It makes total sense. Booties aren’t like shoes—they’re not meant for walking, let alone running. So if you have to walk a far distance to get back to your car or wherever, take your booties off first.
7. Wear long sleeves and a hat
You might’ve heard of or seen “reef safe” sunscreens, but according to Consumer Reports and Michael Gonsior, PhD, an associate professor at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, “reef safe” is essentially a sales gimmick.
You can read more about how unsettled the science is on sunscreens and reef damage by following the Consumer Reports like. But the short version of it is, you should opt for sunscreens that don’t contain oxybenzone or octinoxate. And you should cover as much of your skin with clothing as you can so you can minimize the amount of sunscreen you use.
8. Opt for sustainable versions next time you replace your gear
Dumping your current leash, fins, and traction pad to buy a sustainable version wouldn’t be very sustainable. But next time you need to replace a broken leash, surfboard bag, fins, or traction pad, go for one made from renewable or recycled materials. You might be surprised how many options there are.
For traction pads, you can try the Slater Designs Traction Pad, which is made from algae rather than polyurethane. Slater Designs also makes a leash that’s made with recycled materials and a high proportion of natural rubber.
9. Use organic wax
Ok, so you won’t be saving the world with your organic wax. But why not use an alternative, organic wax for grip rather than the traditional, petroleum-base wax. Here’s all the types of organic wax you could need:
10. Join a beach clean up
If you live close enough to the beach to surf, you live close enough to join a beach cleanup. Don’t underestimate the power of a beach cleanup.
According to Vox’s reporting, in 2020, volunteers removed 5.2 million pounds of plastic from beaches around the world in a single day.
11. Surf local
I’m not going to tell you not to go on a surf trip. Because that would make me a hypocrite. I’ve gone on one each of the past two years and I plan on going on more. But we all know that travel, especially air travel, has a big impact on the environment. So it’s something worth considering if you’re on the fence whether you want to take a trip or not.
