Tuesday 16 May 2023

Wiping Out Surfing's Emissions?

Surfers, of all varieties, generally want to maintain the environments, where they go for 'their' waves. They are 'Against Sewage' and also usually aspire to make their activity as 'green' as possible (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-64663009). The typical surf board, however, involves the use of petrochemicals. Such boards continue to emit toxic chemicals throughout their lives. Numerous companies have recently been created, using 'alternative' materials for boards. Some have made a return to the original wooden boards. Others have constructed of surf boards from recycled waste (these will still have emissions/disposal problems). A recent development, even utilises Mycellium to construct boards. Mycellium is a hard, leather-like material extracted from rapidly-growing fungal hyphae. Wet suits, used by surfers, are also problematic. They are currently made from very non-biodegradable material. If surfers really want to be greener, however, they also need to do something about the 'greenhouse gas' emissions, associated with their travel to exotic beaches. This is inevitable in most recreational, as well as competitive, surfing. Surfing competions also, of course, have emissions generated by observers, support teams, transporting equipment, the media etc. Efforts can, however, be made to reduce emissions, by carefully choosing modes of transport.

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